Armenia-Azerbaijan 44 Days War in the Light of Sun Tzu’s Theory of War

Abstract

Armenia imposed war on Azerbaijan during the last days of Soviet Union. On February 26, 1992 Armenian forces massacred ethnic Azerbaijanis in Khojaly. It is considered as largest genocide in modern history. Occupation forces expelled thousands of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands and destroyed their properties in Fuzuli, Shusha, Aghdam. It was application of Carl Von. Calusewitz’s dangerous concept of “absolute war,” the destruction of opposing force and “instrumental war,” or extermination rather than defeat of the enemy characterize Armenian war fighting. On September 27, 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war broke out. Armenia chooses place, weapon system, target and time of its own choice to wage war against Azerbaijan.

It endangered key energy supplies to Europe, posed serious threats to millions of lives, sustainable development and regional peace. Beside modern military technology Azerbaijan’s triumph in 44 Days War was by-product of strict adherence to classical principles of war. It includes application of element of surprise, bloodless victory and absence of friction emphasized by Sun Tzu 400 B.C, a Chinese military General and strategist and Carl von Clausewitz’s concepts e.g. remarkable trinity and agnostic behavior. . Tzu observations that wars are based on intelligence, deception and surprise is still valid. Loitering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were used for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions during 44 days war. Tzu and Clausewitz emphasizes military generals are assistants to the nation. Generals should prepare their militaries for future wars, remain subservient to civilian government and that decision to go to war is strictly made by civilian government. War affirms Azerbaijan’s civilian government supremacy and adherence to Tzu’s classical principles. Eventually, adherence to classical principles of war ensured Azerbaijan’s triumph.