Russia’s pattern of betrayal: how Moscow abandons its allies in times of crisis

The Russian Federation has a pattern of abandoning its allies in critical moments. After facing setbacks and significant losses in its war against Ukraine, Moscow has been unable to provide meaningful support to its partners in their struggles, according to the Insight News.

One clear example is Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. In 2015, Russian military intervention helped Assad cling to power during the civil war. Yet, when left without Moscow's backing, his forces quickly crumbled under pressure from Syrian rebels.

In 2023, Armenia suffered a similar fate. Despite security guarantees under the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Moscow allowed Azerbaijan to launch an operation that resulted in Armenia losing Nagorno-Karabakh. Politico reported that Russia had prior knowledge of this offensive, which marked another instance of betrayal by the Kremlin.

Before the operation, secret discussions involving Russia, the United States, and the European Union were held in Istanbul. The talks, aimed at securing humanitarian access to Nagorno-Karabakh, involved key diplomats, including Vladimir Putin's envoy Igor Khovaev.

Nagorno-Karabakh, recognized as Azerbaijani territory but largely inhabited by Armenians, declared independence during the Soviet Union's collapse. However, Azerbaijan reclaimed most of it and surrounding areas in the 2020 conflict. Despite Armenia’s CSTO membership, the alliance failed to offer tangible support during these crises, straining relations between Yerevan and Moscow.

The question remains: what will Russia lose next—another ally or perhaps its own stability?