Exploring Azerbaijan's Mediterranean Connection: A Cultural Perspective

Azerbaijan is a country in the South Caucasus region, which is increasingly connected to the eastern Mediterranean. The country has expressed support for Turkey in its tensions with Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly regarding energy exploration in the region. Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, has stated that Turkey is a brotherly country and that Azerbaijan will support it under any circumstances. This support is likely due to the countries' close diplomatic, economic, and security ties. Additionally, Azerbaijan has a Turkic ethnic majority, and its language is mutually intelligible with Turkey's.

Azerbaijan's support for Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean dispute

Azerbaijan is not a Mediterranean country, but it has shown strong support for Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean dispute.

Historical context

Turkey and Azerbaijan have historically shared strong ethnic, cultural, and linguistic ties. Turkey was the first country to recognise Azerbaijan's independence in 1918 and again in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The two countries refer to their relationship as "two states, one nation".

Military cooperation

Turkey has been building Azerbaijan's armed forces since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In 1992, the two countries signed an agreement on military training cooperation, which was ratified by the Turkish Parliament the following year. This agreement allowed Azerbaijani military personnel to be educated at various Turkish military academies. Turkey also contributed to the founding and reorganisation of military education and training institutions in Azerbaijan.

Political support

In 2020, tensions rose in the Eastern Mediterranean as Greece attempted to block Turkey's exploration of energy resources in the region. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev pledged to "stand with Turkey under any circumstances without any hesitation". He also expressed concern about the military cooperation between Armenia, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration.

Economic cooperation

Azerbaijan and Turkey have built a close economic partnership, with Turkey negotiating to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan. The two countries, along with Georgia, have cooperated on infrastructure projects such as pipelines and railways, bypassing Armenia.

Military drills

Turkey and Azerbaijan have conducted joint military drills to improve combat interoperability since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

In summary, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its support for Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean dispute through military cooperation, political statements, and economic partnerships.

The country's stance on the Upper Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan's stance on the Upper Karabakh conflict is that it is a dispute over territory and ethnic differences with Armenia. The conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties and the displacement of people on both sides.

The Upper Karabakh region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, was established by the Soviet Union in 1923 as an autonomous oblast within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. However, the region is predominantly ethnically Armenian, and in 1988, its regional legislature voted to join the Republic of Armenia. This triggered a series of pogroms against Armenians across Azerbaijan and marked the start of the conflict, which escalated into a full-scale war in the early 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The First Nagorno-Karabakh War resulted in the occupation of Upper Karabakh and seven surrounding districts by Armenian forces. A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but tensions remained high, and there were intermittent clashes and violations. In 2020, the conflict escalated once again into the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, which resulted in a significant Azerbaijani victory and the recapture of much of the disputed territory. A ceasefire was brokered by Russia, but it was short-lived, and border tensions and skirmishes have continued.

Azerbaijan's position is that Armenia committed genocide against its people and conducted a policy of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories. They also accuse Armenia of violating international law and express concern about military cooperation between Armenia, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration. Azerbaijan has received diplomatic support from several countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, and Ukraine.

Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, has taken a strong stance on the conflict, stating that Armenia must accept Azerbaijan's conditions for any resolution and that Armenian residents of Upper Karabakh must be "reintegrated" as "normal citizens" of Azerbaijan. He has also threatened military action and refused to offer special status or autonomy to the ethnic Armenian residents of the region.

The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies in the affected areas. International mediation efforts, led primarily by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have failed to produce a permanent solution, and the status of Upper Karabakh remains unresolved.

Baku's role in the region's geopolitics

Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and is the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is a key player in the geopolitics of the Caucasus region, with its role and influence increasing in recent years. Baku has a strong relationship with Turkey, and the two countries have a history of mutual support. Baku has also been an important mediator in the region, particularly in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

Baku's relationship with Turkey is a key aspect of its role in the region. Baku and Ankara have a strong strategic partnership, with Turkey providing military, political, and energy infrastructure support to Azerbaijan. This support was vital in Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, which shifted the regional balance of power. Turkey has also been a key ally in Azerbaijan's conflict with Armenia, with Turkey closing its border with Armenia during the war.

Baku has also played a mediating role in the region, particularly in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon. Baku's offer to mediate between the two countries can be seen as a favour to Israel, as well as a way to demonstrate its geopolitical ambitions. Baku's relationship with Israel is also an important aspect of its regional role, with Israel providing advanced technologies and military support to Azerbaijan.

Baku's role in the region has been influenced by its desire to balance its relationships with Russia and the West. Baku acknowledges Russia's hegemony in the region and tries to avoid criticising Moscow. At the same time, it seeks to maintain its working relationship with Western counterparts without being seen as too pro-European or pro-American. Baku also tries to form strong alliances with Turkey and Georgia, two other key players in the Caucasus region.

Overall, Baku's role in the region's geopolitics is complex and multifaceted. It has strong relationships with Turkey and Israel, and it plays a mediating role in regional conflicts. Baku also tries to balance its relationships with Russia and the West, while seeking to increase its influence and standing in the region.

Azerbaijan's relations with Greece

Azerbaijan and Greece have diplomatic relations and each maintain full embassies in the other country's capital. Greece recognised Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, and the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. The Greek embassy in Baku opened in 1993, and the Azerbaijani embassy in Athens opened in 2004.

The two countries have close relations in trade, culture, and the economy. The Greek community in Azerbaijan is concentrated in Baku and numbers several hundred people, mostly descendants of Black Sea Greeks and Pontic Greeks from Asia Minor who migrated to Baku and Azerbaijan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In February 2009, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Greece to boost bilateral relations. He met with the Greek President and Prime Minister, and the two nations agreed to work more closely to get Azeri gas into Greece. In the past, the two nations have made many deals related to the oil industry. In 2007, for example, the Greek Development Minister signed a "memorandum of cooperation" in the sectors of natural gas and oil while in Baku.

However, relations between the two countries are complicated by Greece's military partnership with Armenia and the close ties and alliance between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan also refuses to establish diplomatic relations with Cyprus and has maintained informal relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) instead.

The country's foreign policy and diplomacy

Azerbaijan's foreign policy and diplomacy are largely influenced by its strategic geographical location and complex regional dynamics. The country's foreign policy strategy aims to regulate pressing issues, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, while also strengthening its international relations and integration.

Azerbaijan has an ancient history of statehood and rich traditions, which guide its diplomatic approach. Located at the intersection of East and West, as well as different civilisations and geopolitical interests, the country has a challenging task of navigating complex relationships. Azerbaijan's foreign policy is designed to protect its national interests, territorial integrity, and independence.

The country has established diplomatic relations with numerous nations and is a member of various international organisations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank.

Azerbaijan's foreign policy is multi-vector and balanced, aiming to foster healthy relations with regional and Western countries, as well as developing mutually beneficial partnerships. This approach has helped protect the country from threats and maintain stability.

One of the key aspects of Azerbaijan's foreign policy is its relationship with Turkey, which has been described as "one nation with two states" due to their shared culture and mutual intelligibility of languages. Turkey was the first country to recognise Azerbaijan's independence, and the two countries have strong diplomatic, economic, and military ties.

Another important relationship is with Russia, which has historically had a significant influence in the region. While Azerbaijan seeks to maintain a neutral stance in the military-political and economic contradictions of superpowers, it still faces pressure and threats from neighbouring states.

Additionally, Azerbaijan has developed relations with other regional powers, such as Iran, with whom they share cultural and religious ties, as well as economic interests.

In recent years, Azerbaijan has also shown support for Turkey in its tensions with Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean, demonstrating its commitment to its allies.

Overall, Azerbaijan's foreign policy is focused on strengthening its position in the international community, establishing mutually beneficial partnerships, and protecting its national interests and independence.

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