The unresolved conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh could degenerate into “large-scale fighting” between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, US intelligence chief Dan Coats warned on Tuesday night.

“Tension over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh could escalate into a large-scale military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which could attract Russia to support its regional ally,” Coats told reporters. Annual Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing on “Global Threats”.

“The reluctance of the two sides to compromise, the increasing domestic pressures, the constant military modernization of Azerbaijan and the acquisition by Armenia of new Russian equipment may trigger large-scale hostilities in 2018”, a- he added.

Russian military assistance to Armenia comes from a defense alliance between the two countries. At the same time, Russia has been the main arms supplier of Azerbaijan. Moscow and Baku signed arms deals worth at least $ 4 billion in 2009-2011.

Armenian officials said the agreements contributed to the four-day Karabakh war that erupted in April 2016 and left at least 180 dead on both sides. This was the worst fight in the conflict zone since a truce negotiated by the Russians ended an Armenian-Azerbaijani war in 1994. Together with France, the United States and Russia have long been engaged in international efforts to an end to the Karabakh conflict.

Diplomats from the world’s three powers on Sunday called on the warring parties to take “additional measures” to reduce tensions on the front lines. In a joint statement issued after their latest tour of the region, the mediators also said that Yerevan and Baku have declared themselves ready to continue “intensive” peace talks in the coming months.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents pledged to intensify the peace process during their meeting in Geneva in October.

Dan Coats mentioned Karabakh in the context of Russia’s efforts to maintain a strong influence on other former Soviet states. “The Kremlin will seek to maintain and, if possible, extend its influence through the former Soviet countries that it claims to be in its self-proclaimed sphere of influence,” said the US intelligence chief.