YEREVAN/BAKU (ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN) – Hopes of an end to the three weeks of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh are on the wane as fresh clashes erupted between Armenian and Azeri forces on Friday, which US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said was “a powder keg of a situation”.
He blamed NATO ally Turkey for the conflict as Ankara backs Baku, saying its stance was worsening the situation in the South Caucasus.
This year, Turkey has increased its weapons exports to Azerbaijan and Russian news agency RIA said the Russian Navy had started military drills in the Caspian Sea.
The clashes indicate that the ceasefire agreed to on Saturday to exchange prisoners of war and bodies of victims has broken down.