Petraeus agreed with US President Donald Trump that NATO forces in Europe should shoot down Russian planes the next time they fly into one of the alliance countries (September 19 three Russian MiG-31 fighters flew to Estonia).
After this, the journalist asked whether a “second front”, which could be opened against the backdrop of the Russian Federation’s problems in the already existing war in Ukraine, would be in the Kremlin’s interests.
“Russia cannot afford a second front. It did not even have the strength to help Armenia [в ее войне с Азербайджаном в Карабахе] or [теперь уже бывшему президенту Сирии] Bashar al-Assad,” replied the former head of the CIA.
He recalled that earlier, when the Assad regime in Syria “came under pressure” (apparently, we are talking about the beginning of the civil war in 2011, which escalated into an international conflict), the Russian military came to the aid of Assad along with Lebanese Hezbollah terrorists and fighters from Iran.
“This time, none of them were there. That is why the resistance forces of Ahmed al-Sharaa were able to overthrow a regime that had been in power for more than 50 years,” Petraeus said.
In his opinion, Europe is now “taking on increasing responsibility” in preparing for possible Russian aggression.
Context
In Nagorno-Karabakh, which declared the independence of part of Azerbaijan, there was a war of varying intensity with the participation of Armenia until 2023. Despite the presence of Russian “peacekeepers” there, the war did not stop, and Moscow did not support Yerevan, despite its obligations within the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
On September 28, 2023, the “authorities” of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh announced the end of the “republic” from January 1, 2024. On August 8, 2025, it was signed between the heads of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington “Agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia.” It provides for continued work to ratify it and strengthen peace.
