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Javan Newspaper, Iran
May 17 2012
Baku's Military Suicide?!
Commentary by Sajjad Tayeri
[translated from Persian]
The increase in Azerbaijan's military power itself cannot be
considered an important threat against Iran, because Iran's military
and defense might is greater than that of Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, the controversial presence of trans-regional forces in
Azerbaijan and military cooperation with this country is what has
created a complex situation in terms of the balance of power in the
region, especially for the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is
especially the case given the age-old hostilities of the United States
and Israel with Iran. Therefore, the presence of their military forces
in Azerbaijan can be considered a direct threat against Iran's
national security, because on the one hand, through their presence in
Azerbaijan the United States and Israel intend to complete the circle
of blockade around the Islamic Republic of Iran, and on the other
hand, they seek to obtain the necessary space to conduct possible
military operations against Iran and prevent Iran from partaking in
regional security arrangements.
Based on this, the pursuit of West-oriented ideas by Baku, the
expansion of relations with the United States, its drawing nearer to
Israel, and its willingness to join NATO are considered among the
policies that would not only push the region of the Caucuses toward
militarization, but would actually threaten Iran's national security.
Thus, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always viewed Azerbaijan's
cooperation with Israel, the United States, and NATO with sensitivity.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense recently reported the
review and talks for signing a military cooperation agreement with 27
countries in the world. So far, this country has signed military
cooperation agreements with 29 countries and is currently talking to
officials from another 27 countries about signing such agreement.
According to the report by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, this
country's military personnel has participated in more than 300
training courses, including language and combat training techniques;
each year about 1,500 individuals from the three armed forces staff
are sent to friendly countries to participate in courses.
Azerbaijan's decision to sign military cooperation agreements with 27
countries was announced while the news released about this country's
1.6 billion dollar agreement with Israel to buy weapons has been the
cause of concern for Baku's neighbors. The weapons agreement signed
between Azerbaijan and Israel contains nearly more than half of the
total defense cost of Azerbaijan in the year 2011. According to
estimates, Azerbaijan's total defense cost in 2012 is equivalent to
1.6bn dollars. This amount is equivalent to half of the trade
transaction between Israel and Azerbaijan, which was equivalent to
more than 5.2bn dollars in 2011. After the signing of the military and
technical contract cooperation agreement in February 2012, Israel
became Azerbaijan's most important trade partner, and Baku became
Israel's most important trade partner among the countries in the
climate of the former Soviet Union.
Some analysts consider this contract as Azerbaijan's entry card to
"the Western coalition," however, it seems that this agreement has
several obvious results:
1. By signing this contract and becoming closer to Israel, Azerbaijan
has entered itself into anti-Iran coalitions more than before. It must
not be forgotten that in the existing speculations about Israel's
possible attack on Iran, only the two countries of Azerbaijan and
Afghanistan (group of coalition forces in Afghanistan) are able to
launch air operations against Iran. Therefore, the increased level of
military relations between Azerbaijan and Israel could lead to greater
tension in relations between Tehran and Baku.
2. The signing of this contract will not go unchallenged by Armenia
and the Armenian side will possibly also sign a similar agreement with
Russia or another county in the near future; especially since the
unmanned aerial vehicles that Azerbaijan has received from Israel will
be able to cross Armenia's anti-aircraft system.
Overall, many experts consider the launch of Israel (and probably
United States) attacks on Iran to be related to the start of
Azerbaijan's war operation against Armenia to liberate
Nagorno-Karabakh. Because in this case, the members of Azerbaijan's
military who are assigned to serve Israel will be able to support
Israel's strikes on Iran through the Armenian-Azeri front. On the
other hand, it seems that there are many individuals within the
governing board in Azerbaijan who consider any role of Baku in a
military action against Iran as Azerbaijan's suicide, because they
know that Azerbaijan would easily become the target of Iran's cross
attacks.
[translated from Persian]
From: Baghdasarian
May 17 2012
Baku's Military Suicide?!
Commentary by Sajjad Tayeri
[translated from Persian]
The increase in Azerbaijan's military power itself cannot be
considered an important threat against Iran, because Iran's military
and defense might is greater than that of Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, the controversial presence of trans-regional forces in
Azerbaijan and military cooperation with this country is what has
created a complex situation in terms of the balance of power in the
region, especially for the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is
especially the case given the age-old hostilities of the United States
and Israel with Iran. Therefore, the presence of their military forces
in Azerbaijan can be considered a direct threat against Iran's
national security, because on the one hand, through their presence in
Azerbaijan the United States and Israel intend to complete the circle
of blockade around the Islamic Republic of Iran, and on the other
hand, they seek to obtain the necessary space to conduct possible
military operations against Iran and prevent Iran from partaking in
regional security arrangements.
Based on this, the pursuit of West-oriented ideas by Baku, the
expansion of relations with the United States, its drawing nearer to
Israel, and its willingness to join NATO are considered among the
policies that would not only push the region of the Caucuses toward
militarization, but would actually threaten Iran's national security.
Thus, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always viewed Azerbaijan's
cooperation with Israel, the United States, and NATO with sensitivity.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense recently reported the
review and talks for signing a military cooperation agreement with 27
countries in the world. So far, this country has signed military
cooperation agreements with 29 countries and is currently talking to
officials from another 27 countries about signing such agreement.
According to the report by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, this
country's military personnel has participated in more than 300
training courses, including language and combat training techniques;
each year about 1,500 individuals from the three armed forces staff
are sent to friendly countries to participate in courses.
Azerbaijan's decision to sign military cooperation agreements with 27
countries was announced while the news released about this country's
1.6 billion dollar agreement with Israel to buy weapons has been the
cause of concern for Baku's neighbors. The weapons agreement signed
between Azerbaijan and Israel contains nearly more than half of the
total defense cost of Azerbaijan in the year 2011. According to
estimates, Azerbaijan's total defense cost in 2012 is equivalent to
1.6bn dollars. This amount is equivalent to half of the trade
transaction between Israel and Azerbaijan, which was equivalent to
more than 5.2bn dollars in 2011. After the signing of the military and
technical contract cooperation agreement in February 2012, Israel
became Azerbaijan's most important trade partner, and Baku became
Israel's most important trade partner among the countries in the
climate of the former Soviet Union.
Some analysts consider this contract as Azerbaijan's entry card to
"the Western coalition," however, it seems that this agreement has
several obvious results:
1. By signing this contract and becoming closer to Israel, Azerbaijan
has entered itself into anti-Iran coalitions more than before. It must
not be forgotten that in the existing speculations about Israel's
possible attack on Iran, only the two countries of Azerbaijan and
Afghanistan (group of coalition forces in Afghanistan) are able to
launch air operations against Iran. Therefore, the increased level of
military relations between Azerbaijan and Israel could lead to greater
tension in relations between Tehran and Baku.
2. The signing of this contract will not go unchallenged by Armenia
and the Armenian side will possibly also sign a similar agreement with
Russia or another county in the near future; especially since the
unmanned aerial vehicles that Azerbaijan has received from Israel will
be able to cross Armenia's anti-aircraft system.
Overall, many experts consider the launch of Israel (and probably
United States) attacks on Iran to be related to the start of
Azerbaijan's war operation against Armenia to liberate
Nagorno-Karabakh. Because in this case, the members of Azerbaijan's
military who are assigned to serve Israel will be able to support
Israel's strikes on Iran through the Armenian-Azeri front. On the
other hand, it seems that there are many individuals within the
governing board in Azerbaijan who consider any role of Baku in a
military action against Iran as Azerbaijan's suicide, because they
know that Azerbaijan would easily become the target of Iran's cross
attacks.
[translated from Persian]
From: Baghdasarian