Risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as Azerbaijan continues its aggressive actions, says Spanish lawmaker

Spanish legislator Jon Inarritu has said that in recent years the only violent actor in the South Caucasus has been Azerbaijan and the risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as it continues its aggressive actions.

The Spanish MP made the comments in an interview with Armenpress when asked about the likelihood of new escalation and Azerbaijan’s accusations and false narratives regarding Armenia buying armaments from various countries.

“In recent years, the only violent actor in the South Caucasus has been Azerbaijan, which has violated international law and caused instability in the region. The risk of renewed escalation remains high as long as Azerbaijan continues its aggressive actions. The international community must continue to pressure Baku to resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation rather than military aggression. Lasting peace can only be achieved if all parties prioritize constructive engagement over conflict,” Jon Inarritu said.

Touching upon Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Yerevan is not engaged in an arms race and is buying weapons solely for self-defense, the Spanish MP underscored that as a sovereign state, Armenia has every right to acquire military equipment for its defense, just as any other country does.

“Azerbaijan’s accusation is curious, to say the least. As a sovereign state, Armenia has every right to acquire military equipment for its defense, just as any other country does. However, it is important to highlight that Azerbaijan has been using sophisticated weaponry, including weapons that are controversial or even in violation of international law, to perpetuate ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and to invade sections of Armenia. These weapons have been supplied from a range of countries, including Turkey, Israel, Russia, Germany, and Canada, among others. Moreover, Azerbaijan has increased its military budget and capabilities, clearly geared towards offensive actions. In contrast, Armenia remains focused solely on defending its borders and territorial integrity. The real danger lies not in acquiring military equipment, but in the misuse of such equipment—especially when it is employed outside of legal contexts, as Azerbaijan has been doing,” the Spanish lawmaker said.