Turkish gambit is only debut of a big geopolitical chess game in S. Caucasus and Caspian Basin

Steps to establish diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia, in the context of current conditions, are rather risky step, which, governments of both countries have decided to take. This step is fraught with serious domestic threats and risks both to the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. Events ongoing at the same time with signing of the Turkey-Armenia “road map” clearly proved this.

Elements of “compulsion” to the agreement by the outside forces are spotted here by the naked eye. The engine of the action, apparently, is the United States of America, which purposefully tries to take Armenia from the orbit of influence of Russia through Turkey and, to some extent, from that of Iran. Russia using the energy against the country no less actively tries to squeeze the influence of the United States and Turkey from Azerbaijan.

I believe Turkish gambit is only debut of a big geopolitical game of chess in the South Caucasus and the Caspian Basin with far-reaching consequences.

Contrary to views exaggerated by foreign and national media opinion, I believe the risks to Azerbaijan, in this situation, are minimized. On the one hand, Azerbaijan has a fairly strong position in all socio-political area in Turkey which was conclusively proved by recent past and has possibility to adjust Turkish government’s action in event of a negative turn of events for the country.

On the other hand, I am convinced that Baku has much broader opportunities for diplomatic maneuvering than is understood today by the parties to geopolitical confrontation and principal players of this process - Turkey and Armenia.

Rashad Rzaguliyev

Day.Az