The European Union is only good for strong – worded complaint letters and almost self-deprecating bragging about being a “humanistic” or “regulatory superpower”! Armenians’ exodus from Nagorno Karabakh seems to be irreversible but no European wants to mess with the “strategic partner” that is Azerbaijan!
This week, the European Parliament is set to request sanctions against Azerbaijan in response to its recent seizure of Nagorno – Karabakh, an Armenian enclave. However, it’s unlikely that EU member states will heed this demand due to Azerbaijan’s strong influence and vital gas reserves. A few days ago, in September, Azerbaijan launched a swift military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, causing the displacement of 100,000 people and highlighting Europe’s divided stance on the conflict. While European leaders often pay lip service to Armenia, Azerbaijan is gaining more and more influence in Brussels, primarily because the EU is increasingly turning to Caspian Sea gas as an alternative to Russian energy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Nathalie Loiseau, a French lawmaker and chair of the European Parliament’s Defence Committee, stressed the need to avoid repeating past mistakes and urged support for Armenia. His plea fell in deaf ears but for a small identitarian group of European Members of Parliament. This situation underscores the complex and divisive nature of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in European politics, as well as the constant inability of Brussels to be firm in anything slightly geopolitical!
