OMM Newsroom
A new book examining Azerbaijan’s military strategy, use of technology and operations in the Karabakh wars has been presented in Baku. “The War for Karabakh: Strategy, Technology, and the Quest for Victory” was co-authored by US military experts Liam Collins and John Spencer. The presentation was held at the Baku Book Center, AnewZ reports.
The book reviews the First Karabakh War, the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and Azerbaijan’s 2023 anti-terrorist measures.
The authors examine major military operations in the directions of Hadrut, Fuzuli, Zangilan and Qubadli, as well as the battle for Shusha.
Based on interviews with about 100 military and civilian experts and visits to key battlefields, the study provides a detailed analysis of Azerbaijan’s military campaigns.
Government officials, military experts, academics, diplomats and politicians attended the presentation and discussed the study’s findings and their significance for modern warfare.
Speed and strategy behind the 44-day victory
Collins said Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day Patriotic War was not solely the result of drone technology, but the culmination of more than two decades of strategic planning.
He highlighted the campaign’s pace and the coordination of military and national resources, comparing Azerbaijan’s 44-day victory with Russia’s protracted war in Ukraine.
“To do this in 44 days plus 24 hours. You know, Russia has not been able to do this in Ukraine in four years. What they achieved is truly impressive. That does not mean the Armenians did not fight. They fought hard. They simply did not have a good plan and did not execute it properly,” Collins said.
Technology and modern military operations
Spencer described Azerbaijan’s combination of advanced technology, ground manoeuvres and coordinated military operations as one of the campaign’s defining features.
“We have visited the region more than six times. I first went in 2021 to study the Battle of Shusha. It was the decisive battle that ensured Azerbaijan’s victory. We later returned five more times to other battlefields discussed in the book. We wanted to better understand the terrain and the decisions made during those battles,” Spencer said.
Both authors said the outcome of the war was not determined by drones and precision weapons alone. The study highlights the importance of long-term military reforms, economic development, strategic planning and coordination among the armed forces.
The book also examines the changing role of technology on the battlefield. The authors say preparedness, effective planning and the integration of military capabilities are crucial in modern warfare.
