China and Pakistan did not make a noise and sent 21 Thunder fighters to Azerbaijan, which gave Russia a headache
China and Pakistan joined forces, and 21 Thunder fighters were transferred to Azerbaijan, a move that really caused Russia a headache. Behind the seemingly simple ** exit, there is a complex international political game. Why did Azerbaijan choose this fighter jet, and how should we understand this arms sales deal? Let's dive in.
Azerbaijan has a close conflict with Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and air power is crucial to the regional balance of military power. Before the introduction of the Thunder fighters, Armenia's air superiority made Azerbaijan passive on a number of issues. But now, Pakistan has provided Azerbaijan with 21 Thunder fighters, and the situation has changed significantly.
As China's first third-generation model successfully launched into the international market, the "Thunder" fighter provides Azerbaijan with an ideal alternative to the old. This fighter not only has advanced air combat capabilities, but is also equipped with surface-to-surface missiles, sea-to-sea missiles, and PL-15 over-the-horizon long-range air-to-air missiles with strike capabilities from 300 kilometers away. This is not just a simple transaction, but also political and military support for China-Pakistan cooperation.
One might wonder why Azerbaijan didn't choose to introduce more optimized fighters such as the American F16, the French Rafale or the British Typhoon. However, Azerbaijan's arch-rival Armenia has the support of Russia, leaving Azerbaijan with no choice but to seek a third party to achieve a balance of military power in the region.
This cooperation also shows us the clever layout of Pakistan in geopolitics. On the one hand, India is Pakistan's sworn enemy, and Russia has been exporting cutting-edge ** to India, which has aroused dissatisfaction on the Pakistani side. On the other hand, because the "Thunder" fighter needs to go through actual combat, Pakistan also sees the opportunity to export ** to Azerbaijan. This has deepened China-Pakistan cooperation, while the United States and Europe have remained silent on the issue of Asian-Asian conflicts.
The silence of the United States and Europe may be due to concerns about Russia. They fear that explicit support for Azerbaijan will provoke retaliation from Russia, while Pakistan clearly has no concerns about this. This is not just an arms sale, but also the result of a confrontation and balance of forces in the region. China and Pakistan have chosen to support Azerbaijan out of their own interests, and this may be a powerful response to Russia.
However, Armenia did not sit still. They have strengthened military cooperation with India and introduced the Indian "Akash air defense" system to counter Azerbaijani warplanes and drones. This shows that regional conflicts are far from over and involve a multinational arms race. Armenia's choice to go to the United States and Europe demonstrates the multi-layered game of regional conflicts.
This arms sale deal also reveals the obsolescence that the "Thunder" fighter may face. According to sources, China's J-31 is expected to be exported to Pakistan, which makes the "Thunder" fighter may be on the verge of elimination. However, by exporting to Azerbaijan, this fighter has the opportunity to show its usefulness in the war. Azerbaijan plans to install 21 Thunders at a time to form the most powerful air force in the Caucasus, which will pose a more immediate threat to Armenia.
The arms sales business has been vividly portrayed as a profiteering business, and the cooperation between China and Pakistan also shows the political and strategic considerations behind it. In business, if politics is mixed with business, it will be a complicated game. Changes in the geopolitical landscape have made countries pursue their own interests in the best transactions. And this deal of 21 Thunder fighters is not only a cooperation between the two countries, but also part of the regional and global balance of power.
Finally, let us think, in the face of such international relations and arms race, how should we view arms sales and transactions? This is a complex and profound issue that requires us to think more deeply and understand. There are many elements of international politics hidden in this deal for 21 Thunder fighters, and we need to look at this complex situation more wisely.