Preventing Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: A Successful Example of Security Cooperation Between Russia and the West?

Abstract

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is one of the so-called “frozen” or “protracted” conflicts on the territory of the former Soviet Union. In this sense it has many similarities to conflicts in Transnistria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. However, it also has important differences from these conflicts, where the main actors can be described as post-Soviet republics that are supported by the West, versus de facto states supported by Russia. One of the most striking differences between these conflicts and the one in Nagorno-Karabakh is precisely the position of Russia and the West. Both have avoided providing decisive support to either side, and, moreover, they have cooperated for decades in their efforts to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict.