Exploring Azerbaijan's Neighbors: A Regional Geography Guide

Azerbaijan is a country in southwestern Asia with five neighbouring countries: Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and Turkey to the west. The country also has a coastline along the Caspian Sea to the east, which is classified as the world's largest lake.

Russia to the north

Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia to the north. Russia is the largest country in the world by area, covering about 6,612,100 square miles. It is the ninth most densely populated state globally, with approximately 144 million residents. The Russian-Azerbaijani border is about 176 miles long and is fenced with cameras, sensors, and barbed wire.

The current border was set by an agreement signed on October 3, 2010, in Baku. The boundary has three parts: the lowland, Piedmont, and the mountain. The border passes through the River Samur delta in the lowland section.

Historically, Russia and Azerbaijan have had a complex relationship. What is now Azerbaijan became part of the Russian Empire after Qajar Iran ceded it, along with all its other Caucasian territories, following the Russo-Persian Wars of 1804-1813 and 1826-1828 and the resulting Treaties of Gulistan and Turkmenchay. After decades as a territory of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan gained independence before being annexed into the Soviet Union in 1920.

Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, relations between the two countries grew closer, but there have also been breakdowns in relations throughout the 2010s. Despite their differences, Russia and Azerbaijan maintain diplomatic relations and continue to cooperate in various areas, including military and security matters. Russia is one of Azerbaijan's main suppliers of arms, and the two countries have a bilateral agreement on the status, principles, and conditions for using the Gabala Radar Station.

Trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan are also on the rise, with the trade turnover between the two countries increasing annually. In addition, Russian-Azerbaijani relations in culture and education are steadily developing, with the adoption of a joint program in the humanitarian sphere for 2007-2009.

Georgia to the northwest

Azerbaijan is bordered by Georgia to the northwest. Both countries are former Soviet Republics and have maintained close and cordial relations since establishing their independent statehood in 1918. They are among the four founding members of the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development, along with Ukraine and Moldova.

The Azerbaijan-Georgia border is about 298 miles long and has numerous crossing points. One of the checkpoints is in the district of Balakan, Azerbaijan, and is open to everyone. Another crossing point is the Red Bridge on the road from Ganja to Tbilisi. The current bridge was built in the 17th century, though there has been a bridge in this place since the 12th century.

There are 284,761 Azeris in Georgia, making them the largest minority in the country and comprising 6.5% of the population. There is also a large Azeri community in the capital city of Tbilisi. The Georgian minority in Azerbaijan is less sizable and is known as Ingiloy.

The two countries are connected by several important regional projects, including the Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines, the "Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum” gas line, and the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway. Azerbaijan is also one of Georgia's most significant trading partners. Georgian exports to Azerbaijan include cement, locomotives, mineral and chemical fertilizers, mineral waters, strong drinks, glass and glass wares, and pharmaceuticals, among other things. Azerbaijani exports to Georgia include oil and petroleum products, natural gas, plastic wares, waste foodstuff, furniture, and building constructions.

Despite good relations in the energy sector, the Georgian-Azerbaijani border has yet to be clarified. One point of contention is the Georgian David Gareja monastery complex, which is divided between the two countries. In April 2007, Azerbaijan's deputy foreign minister Khalaf Khalafov remarked that the monastery "was home to the Caucasian Albanians, who are believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of Azerbaijan." In response, a Georgian foreign minister stated that Khalafov's history lessons are "absolutely incomprehensible." In their recent comments, Azeri officials confirmed that Azerbaijan is open to implementing joint projects with Georgia for the restoration of the complex. However, official suggestions that the complex could be a "shared tourist zone" have sparked indignation from the Georgian public, including the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, who said that "the monastery was a holy shrine that should lie entirely on Georgian soil."

Iran to the south

Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. The country is dominated by three physical features: broad flatlands at its centre, the Great Caucasus range to its north, and the Caspian Sea, which forms its eastern border.

Iran is an Asian sovereign state with a population of over 81 million people. It is the eighteenth most densely populated nation on Earth. Iran has a land area of about 636,372 square miles, and it is the seventeenth-largest country in the world and the second-biggest in the Middle East. Tehran, the largest and capital city of Iran, is the leading cultural and economic centre of the country. The urban area of Tehran covers about 675 square miles and has a population of over 8,846,782.

The Iran-Azerbaijan border is 689km (428mi) long and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the Armenia-Iran border. The border starts in the northwest at the tripoint with Turkey on the Aras River and continues along this river southeastwards, through the Aras reservoir (created by the Aras Dam) and down to the western Armenian tripoint. The border then leaves the river at a point south of Bəhramtəpə, turning sharply southeastwards and proceeding across the Mugan plain to the Bolgarchay River. The border then follows this river south, forming a broad S-shape. The river ends near Yardımlı, with the border then curving southeastwards, proceeding overland in that direction through the Talysh Mountains, then turning east along the Astarachay River, following its course all the way to the Caspian Sea.

The relationship between Iran and Azerbaijan has been fraught, with nationwide anti-government protests in Iran adding a new level of complexity to the situation. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with Iran holding two large-scale drills near the border with Azerbaijan and accusing Baku of colluding with its enemies and interfering in its internal affairs. Azerbaijan has responded by holding its own military exercises on the border with Iran, as well as joint military exercises with Turkey.

Turkey to the west

Turkey is located to the west of Azerbaijan. The two countries share a border that is approximately 17 kilometres (11 miles) long. The Aras River separates Turkey from the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan.

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence in 1918 and supported its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The two countries have historically had strong relations, with former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev describing them as "one nation, two states". Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan's efforts to consolidate its independence and preserve its territorial integrity.

The two countries have close linguistic and cultural ties and have built upon these to form a strong economic partnership. They cooperate on infrastructure projects, such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, and the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway. Turkey also negotiates to buy natural gas from Azerbaijan, which has become Turkey's major gas supplier.

Military cooperation between the two countries first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the two governments on military education and weapon equipment. Since then, they have closely cooperated on defence and security, with Turkey providing military and political support to Azerbaijan during its conflict with Armenia. In 2022, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar reiterated Turkey's support for Azerbaijan in this conflict.

In summary, Turkey, located to the west of Azerbaijan, has historically had strong relations with the country and continues to be a close ally in economic, political, and military matters. The two countries share a border and have cooperated extensively in various sectors, with Turkey supporting Azerbaijan's independence and territorial integrity.

Armenia to the west

Azerbaijan is bordered by Armenia to the west. The boundary between the two countries stretches for about 625.78 miles, and due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the border is currently closed. The southernmost inhabited regions on the border are Agarak and Ganza, while the northernmost towns include Berdavan in Armenia and Kamarli in Azerbaijan. The border follows the topography of the hilly landscape, with an elevation of up to 11,155 ft above sea level. The boundary runs through the River Aghstafa, Sevan Lake, and the River Hakari before emptying into the River Araz.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is the main religious organisation in Armenia. Armenia is a landlocked Asian state with a population of over 2,924,816 people. The country's landscape is mostly mountainous, with a few forests and fast-moving rivers. Armenia gained its independence in 1991.

The relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been fraught with conflict. In February 1992, Armenians massacred hundreds of civilians in the city of Khojaly, which led to the resignation of Azerbaijan's first president, Ayaz Mutabilov, and significantly damaged relations between the two countries. The dispute over the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has a high proportion of ethnic Armenians, has been a source of tension and conflict between the two countries. The region's status remains unresolved, with Russia supporting Armenia in the dispute.

Azerbaijan also has three enclaves within Armenia: Barxudarlı, Yuxarı Əskipara, and Karki, located north of the region of Nakhchivan. Reciprocally, there is one Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan, a village called Artsvashen in north-western Azerbaijan.

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