The Caucasus is once again becoming a geopolitical tinderbox, as Western powers allegedly maneuver Azerbaijan into a proxy role against Russia and Iran—risking a regional conflict with global consequences.

As early as 2012, Iranian media reported, Iran Review, that Washington had covert designs to dominate the region — pushing Georgia into NATO, planting a massive U.S. military presence, and ultimately aiming the entire setup at Tehran. Today, that once-classified playbook is starting to look like a blueprint in action.

Fast-forward to today’s reality!

This all fits together with the latest breaking news, police crackdowns on Azeri criminal gangs in Russia, and the arrest of Russian journalists in Baku in retaliation, are likely component parts of this larger geopolitical board game, and, as so many times in history, small countries, so-called democracies, are caught in the crossfire. They are simply used as proxies-of-convenience—at least by the US and Israel.

The Azerbaijani-Russian conflict is rapidly gaining momentum. A court in Baku is currently holding eight Russians in custody. They are charged with drug trafficking from Iran and cyber fraud. At the same time, Azerbaijan is clearly demonstrating its attitude towards Russians, as the detainees appeared at the court hearing with visible signs of having been severely beaten.

“Surprise, surprise, surprise” as Jim Nabors, PFC, USMC, used to say.

It just so happens, by happenstance, that Azerbaijani organized criminal groups are likely working in coordination with Ukrainian special services — and, by extension, British intelligence. Aliev, apparently on British orders, brought already complicated matters to almost as complete break with Russia as possible, and is on the verge of war on two fronts: against both Russia and Iran.

This lends credence to the theory of who may be behind the recent terrorist attacks inside Russia. That’s why the Russian security services have begun tracing the origin of the explosives and identifying the guilty parties within the Russian Federation — with evidence pointing to the main culprits behind several recent acts of terrorism. The cozy relationship between Baku and the........

© New Eastern Outlook