As per an estimate, the 2020 conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh has inflicted damage of around 50 billion USD. The conflict has caused damages to cultural heritage apart from harm and damages to properties.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Turkey, in an interview stated that the loss inflicted by Armenia on Azerbaijan amounts up to a sum of more than $ 50 billion. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of war crimes, violation of international laws, ecocides among others.
In a parallel development, it was revealed that Azerbaijan had used advanced drone technology to destroy Russian S-300 air defence system deployed in the conflict region by Armenia. Azerbaijan had fitted the Antonov with a kit that would make it able to be flown via remote, and then Azerbaijani forces used Israeli Harop loitering munitions to hit the triggered Russian air defence system in a Kamikaze style. This allowed the Azerbaijani forces to just make the Antonovs appear as drones without actually making any drastic structural overhaul.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a part in Azerbaijan, which has been claimed by Armenians as a part of Armenia. In the 2020 conflict of six weeks, Azerbaijan has claimed to have liberated 300 settlements from almost 30 years of Armenian occupation. Azerbaijan also claimed that prior to the conflict around a fifth of Azerbaijani territory was under Armenian occupation for almost three decades.
The liberation of the city of Shusha, considered as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, from Armenia has been an important development for Azerbaijan. Subsequently, constructions of an international airport and a highway connecting it with Fuzuli have been announced. After the 44-day armed conflict, Azerbaijani police has seized air defence systems left by Armenians in Fuzuli, which was also liberated from Armenia.
In another commercial-diplomatic development, companies from Turkey, Hungary, Italy, UK, Japan, & Israel have shown interest in projects involving the rebuilding of the regions liberated from Armenia. Firms from Turkey have already been involved in reconstruction projects around Fuzuli. This has been projected to help the construction industry in Azerbaijan to rebound in coming months.
An important gold mine in the Vejnali contract area in the region affected by the conflict has been brought under Azerbaijan’s control.
The rights to the mines over the three gold deposits were given to Anglo-Asian Mining company, by Azerbaijan. Another notable productive gold mine in the Caucasus, the Kelbajar region, has also been handed over to Azerbaijan by Armenia.
In the larger context of the conflict, the Armenian PM faced huge pressure at home due to the peace deal with Azerbaijan, mediated by Russia under Putin. The peace deal, which has not gone well with Armenia, had mandated Yerevan to return Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin to the control of Baku.
Azerbaijan has warned Armenia against the deployment of troops in regions manned by Russian peacekeeping forces, which has been termed by Baku as a violation of international law.
