2020s in military history

This is the military history of the 2020s.

Nagorno-Karabakh war
Main article: 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war

The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war[lower-alpha 1] was an armed conflict between Azerbaijan, supported by Turkey, and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh together with Armenia, in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. It was the latest escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but partially governed by Artsakh, a breakaway state with an Armenian ethnic majority.[lower-alpha 2]

Clashes began on the morning of 27 September 2020 along the Nagorno-Karabakh Line of Contact, which had been established in the aftermath of the First Nagorno-Karabakh war (1988–1994). In response to the clashes, Armenia and Artsakh introduced martial law and total mobilization,[9][10] while Azerbaijan introduced martial law and a curfew,[11] later declaring partial mobilization on 28 September 2020.[12] Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan, although the extent of this support has been disputed.[13][14] Turkey's involvement is thought to have been an attempt to extend its sphere of influence, both by increasing the standing of Azerbaijan in the conflict and by marginalizing Russia's influence over the region.[13][15]

Following the capture of Shusha, the second-largest settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, ending all hostilities in the area from 00:00, 10 November 2020 Moscow Time.[16][17][18] The President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, also agreed to end the hostilities.[19] Under the agreement, the warring sides will keep control of their currently held areas within Nagorno-Karabakh, while Armenia will return the surrounding territories it occupied in 1994 to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan will also gain land access to its Nakhchivan exclave bordering Turkey and Iran.[20] Approximately 2,000 Russian soldiers will be deployed as peacekeeping forces along the Lachin corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh for a mandate of at least five years.

Tigray conflict
Main article: Tigray conflict

The Tigray conflict is an ongoing armed conflict that began in November 2020 in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, between Tigray Region special forces led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in alliance with Amhara Region special forces.[21]

The conflict stemmed from the attempt of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to distance the country's politics from ethnic federalism, a power-sharing system giving regional influence to individual ethnic groups, by merging the ethnic and region-based parties of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, which had governed Ethiopia for 30 years, into a nationwide Prosperity Party.

The Tigray People's Liberation Front, a military and politically powerful entity inside Ethiopia representing 6% of the total population ethnically, refused to join the new party, and alleged that Abiy Ahmed became an illegitimate ruler by rescheduling the general elections set for 29 August 2020 to an undetermined date in 2021 due to COVID-19.

Air combat

Artificial intelligence solutions are being developed and deployed for air combat purposes, though sixth-generation jet fighters are expected to still have human pilots.[22] Specific tasks will, however, are being automated, for example in the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System.[22]

History by region

United States

The United States formally withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies on November 22, 2020.[23]

Afghanistan

On February 29, 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha, Qatar, officially titled the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan.[24] The provisions of the deal include the withdrawal of all American and NATO troops from Afghanistan, a Taliban pledge to prevent al-Qaeda from operating in areas under Taliban control, and talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.[25] The United States agreed to an initial reduction of its force level from 13,000 to 8,600 by July 2020, followed by a full withdrawal within 14 months if the Taliban keeps its commitments.[26] The United States also committed to closing five military bases within 135 days,[27] and expressed its intent to end economic sanctions on the Taliban by August 27, 2020.[28] The deal was supported by China, Russia and Pakistan, although it did not involve the government of Afghanistan.[29]

Despite the peace agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban, insurgent attacks against Afghan security forces were reported to have surged in the country. In the 45 days after the agreement (between 1 March and 15 April 2020), the Taliban conducted more than 4,500 attacks in Afghanistan, which showed an increase of more than 70% as compared to the same period in the previous year.[30] More than 900 Afghan security forces were killed in the period, up from about 520 in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, because of a significant reduction in the number of offensives and airstrikes by Afghan and U.S. forces against the Taliban due to the agreement, Taliban casualties dropped to 610 in the period down from about 1,660 in the same period a year earlier. On 22 June 2020, Afghanistan reported its "bloodiest week in 19 years," during which 291 members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) were killed and 550 others wounded in 422 attacks carried out by the Taliban. At least 42 civilians, including women and children, were also killed and 105 others wounded by the Taliban across 18 provinces.[31] During the week, the Taliban kidnapped 60 civilians in the central province of Daykundi.[32]

Australia

The Brereton Report found evidence of 39 murders of civilians and prisoners by (or at the instruction of) members of the Australian special forces, which were subsequently covered up by ADF personnel.[33][34][35] The report stated 25 ADF personnel were involved in the killings, including those who were "accessories" to the incident.[36] The unlawful killings discussed by the report began in 2009, with most occurring in 2012 and 2013.[37]

Israel

The Israeli foreign intelligence agency Mossad was accused by Iran of using an "artificial intelligence" machine gun controlled by a satellite in the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.[38]

Philippines

The Philippines was considering a purchase of the BrahMos cruise missile system in late 2020.[39]

Syria
See also: Syrian civil war, Timeline of the Syrian Civil War, Timeline of the Syrian Civil War (January–April 2020), and Northwestern Syria offensive (December 2019–March 2020)

In early 2020, the Syrian Civil War flared up, with massive fighting between Syrian government forces and rebel groups in northwestern Syria. In March 2020, Syria claimed that a number of its soldiers had been killed in Turkish attacks.[40] Turkey warned that millions of migrants might head for the EU.[41] Greece suspended all asylum applications.[42]

In May 2020, Special UN Envoy Geir Pedersen said that warring factions had indicated some willingness to have new peace talks.[43]

Fighting in the Syrian Civil War continued around the areas of Idlib and Aleppo in northwestern Syria.[44]

Finland

The Finnish Navy is building its largest ships since World War II with the Pohjanmaa-class corvette. Meanwhile, the Finnish Air Force will replace its McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighters through the new Finnish fighter jet procurement programme, being the most expensive military procurement in Finnish history. Finland is also procuring a new surface-to-air missile, with possible contenders being the AMRAAM-ER, IRIS-T SL, EMADS, SPYDER MR/LR or David's Sling systems.[45]

France

The French Navy received the first of the Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarines in 2020.[46]

Russia

The Russian Navy will build a new base in Port Sudan, which will be the country's first in Africa since the Soviet Union had a base in Baledogle, Somalia during the Cold War until 1977.[47][48]

In 2020, Russian cyberwarfare operations hacked US federal government departments, FireEye, an IT security company.[49]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom unveiled the largest spending increases on the military since the end of the Cold War.[50]

See also

References
  1. ""Azerbaijani aggression has been pre-planned" – Armenian FM sends letter to UN Secretary-General". Armenpress. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. Ghazanchyan, Siranush (9 October 2020). "26 more Armenian troops killed repelling Azerbaijani aggression". Public Radio of Armenia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  3. "Protest in front of the White House against the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression". 1lurer.am. Public TV of Armenia. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. "Prezident İlham Əliyevin rəhbərliyi ilə Müdafiə Nazirliyinin Mərkəzi Komanda Məntəqəsində operativ müşavirə keçirilib – YENİLƏNİB". apa.az (in Azerbaijani). 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. "Vətən Müharibəsində dövlətimizin və ordumuzun yanındayıq" (in Azerbaijani). Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  6. "Azərbaycanda yeni hərbi orden, medallar və fəxri ad təsis edilib". AzeriDefence (in Azerbaijani). 20 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  7. "Assistant to President of Azerbaijan: "First phase of operation for peaceenforcement of Armenia was successfully completed"". 11 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  8. "Defense Ministry: Azerbaijan Army's Troops launches counter-offensive operation along entire front". 29 September 2020.
  9. "Armenia and Azerbaijan erupt into fighting over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC News. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. "Nagorno-Karabakh announces martial law and total mobilization". Reuters. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  11. "Azerbaijan's parliament approves martial law, curfews – president's aide". Reuters. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  12. "Azerbaijan's president orders partial military mobilization". tass.com. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  13. Kofman, Michael (2 October 2020). "Armenia–Azerbaijan War: Military Dimensions of the Conflict". russiamatters.org. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. On 27 September 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive, resulting in fighting that spans much of the line of contact in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh...
  14. Jones, Dorian (28 September 2020). "Turkey Vows Support for Azerbaijan in Escalating Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. 'Turkey is already supporting Azerbaijan militarily, through technical assistance through arms sales, providing critical military support, especially in terms of armed drones and technical expertise', said Turkish analyst Ilhan Uzgel.
  15. Gall, Carlotta (2020-10-01). "Turkey Jumps Into Another Foreign Conflict, This Time in the Caucasus". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  16. "Путин выступил с заявлением о прекращении огня в Карабахе" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  17. "Пашинян заявил о прекращении боевых действий в Карабахе" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  18. "Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia deploys peacekeeping troops to region". BBC News. 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  19. "Президент непризнанной НКР дал согласие закончить войну" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  20. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/world/middleeast/armenia-settlement-nagorno-karabakh-azerbaijan.html
  21. Paravicini, Giulia; Endeshaw, Dawit (4 November 2020). "Ethiopia sends army into Tigray region, heavy fighting reported". Reuters. Archived from the original on 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  22. "Fighter aircraft will soon get AI pilots". The Economist. 2020-11-19. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  23. Rej, Abhijnan. "United States Formally Exits Open Skies Treaty". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  24. Qazi, Shereena (29 February 2020). "Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign agreement aimed at ending war". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  25. "US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year Afghan war". BBC News. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  26. Rai, Manish. "U.S.-Taliban Deal: India should Chalk-out a New Strategy". OpedColumn.News.Blog.
  27. Graham-Harrison, Emma; Sabbagh, Dan; Makoii, Akhtar Mohammad; Borger, Julian (29 February 2020). "US and Taliban sign deal to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan". The Guardian. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  28. Seligman, Lara. "All U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan under peace deal". POLITICO. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  29. Basu, Nayanima (12 September 2020). "India asserts Afghanistan's 'national sovereignty' as peace talks with Taliban start in Qatar". ThePrint.
  30. "Taliban step up attacks on Afghan forces since signing U.S. deal: data". May 1, 2020 – via www.reuters.com.
  31. "Afghan Security Forces Suffer Bloodiest Week in 19 Years". June 22, 2020 – via www.voanews.com.
  32. "Taliban kidnap 60 civilians in Afghanistan in a week". June 21, 2020 – via www.dailysabah.com.
  33. Doran, Matthew (2020-11-19). "Afghanistan war crimes report released by Defence Chief Angus Campbell includes evidence of 39 murders by special forces". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  34. "Paul Brereton inquiry uncovers list of alleged Australian war crimes in Afghanistan". 7NEWS.com.au. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
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  36. Hitch, Georgia (2020-11-19). "What war crimes did Australian soldiers commit in Afghanistan and will anyone go to jail?". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  37. "Afghanistan Inquiry: Australian war crimes 'made me physically ill', says Defence Minister Linda Reynolds". Perth Now. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  38. "Iran says nuclear scientist killed by 'artificial intelligence' machine gun". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  39. Strangio, Sebastian. "Philippines Close to Indo-Russian Cruise Missile Purchase: Reports". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  40. Syria war: Turkish drone strikes 'kill 19 Syrian soldiers', bbc.com.
  41. Turkey says millions of migrants may head to EU, MArch 2, 2020, bbc.
  42. Greece suspends asylum applications as migrants seek to leave Turkey, 1 March 2020, bbc.
  43. Syrian warring sides agree to Geneva constitution talks: UN envoy. Geir Pedersen says talks to take place 'as soon as pandemic allows', adds virtual meeting will not be possible. 19 May 2020.
  44. Assad regime forces target food supply in Syria's Idlib and Aleppo, BY DAILY SABAH, JUN 07, 2020.
  45. "Finland: new anti-aircraft systems in the shadow of the Finnish HX fighter program". bulgarianmilitary.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  46. Suciu, Peter (2020-12-06). "Barracuda: Here's What We Know About France's New Submarines". The National Interest. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
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  48. "Russia to Build Naval Base in Sudan". Jamestown. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
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  1.  • In Armenia, local media sometimes refer to it as Azerbaijani aggression (Armenian: ադրբեջանական ագրեսիա, romanized: adrbejanakan agreˈsia, Armenian pronunciation: [ɑdɾbɛdʒɑnɑˈkɑn ɑgˈɾɛsjɑ])[1][2] or the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression (Armenian: ադրբեջանա-թուրքական ագրեսիա, romanized: adrbejana-t'urk'akan agreˈsia, Armenian pronunciation: [ɑdɾbɛdʒɑnɑ-tʰuɾkʰɑkɑn ɑgˈɾɛsjɑ]).[3]
        • In Azerbaijan, it has been referred to Second Karabakh War (Azerbaijani: İkinci Qarabağ müharibəsi),[4] The Patriotic War (Azerbaijani: Vətən müharibəsi),[5][6] Operation for peace enforcement of Armenia (Azerbaijani: Ermənistanı sülhə məcburetmə əməliyyatı),[7] or Counter-offensive operation[8] (Azerbaijani: Əks-hücum əməliyyatı) by the government.
  2. At the end of Soviet period, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was recorded as being populated by 76.9% Armenians, 21.5% Azerbaijanis, and 1.5% other groups, totalling 188,685 persons, in the 1989 census. The surrounding districts, occupied by the Republic of Artsakh since the 1994 ceasefire, were recorded in the 1979 census to have a population of 97.7% Azerbaijanis, 1.3% Kurds, 0.7% Russians, 0.1% Armenians, and 0.1% Lezgins, for a total of 186,874 persons. This does not include the populations of Fuzuli Rayon and Agdam Rayon, which were only partially under Armenian control before the 2020 war.
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