EQUITABLE DIALOGUE

On April 22, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a working visit to Moscow, responding to an invitation from his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. The talks and dialogues throughout the visit underscored the robust level of bilateral ties, anchored in the tenets of amity and neighbourliness.

As Allies

This meeting marked the first encounter between Ilham Aliyev and Vladimir Putin since their respective re-elections as state leaders, following the presidential polls in Azerbaijan in February and in Russia in March.

Anticipating the Azerbaijani leader's arrival in Russia, Dmitry Peskov, the Russian presidential spokesperson, indicated that Putin and Aliyev would deliberate on the prevailing regional dynamics, "founded on the constructive allied relations that have been consistently fortified between Moscow and Baku."

The essence of these allied relations, rooted in the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation—inked by Presidents Aliyev and Putin on February 22, 2022—was evident throughout the visit's proceedings and pronouncements.

During the public segment of his discussions with Putin, President Aliyev highlighted the significant role of bilateral interactions, stating, "a lot depends on the interplay between our nations." Concurrently, he underscored Azerbaijan's commitment "to bolster confidence-building measures, collaboration, mutual comprehension, and to address all matters in a cooperative spirit," while acknowledging "Russia's pivotal influence on regional security in the Caucasus and beyond."

Indeed, the focal points of the dialogue between Baku and Moscow revolved around regional security cooperation and bilateral economic ties. The heightened interest in these talks stemmed from a pivotal and highly consequential development in their bilateral rapport that had transpired shortly before—the early disengagement of the Russian peacekeeping forces from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan.

Joint Decision

In the wake of independence in 1992, Azerbaijan distinguished itself as the inaugural nation within the former Soviet Union to facilitate the withdrawal of the Russian Federation (the USSR's successor) from its territory. Two decades later, in 2012, the Gabala radar installation—Azerbaijani property leased to Russia—ceased operations on Azerbaijani soil, affirming Azerbaijan's status as a sovereign state devoid of any external military presence.

Following Azerbaijan's triumphant Patriotic War in 2020, a Russian peacekeeping brigade was deployed to the Garabagh territory of Azerbaijan, pursuant to the November 10, 2020 trilateral declaration. This accord stipulated a five-year tenure for the Russian peacekeepers, subject to automatic renewal for successive five-year intervals, unless one of the parties signalled an intent to terminate this clause six months before the term's conclusion.

The subsequent near-three-year period was characterised by Azerbaijan's complete reclamation of sovereignty and territorial integrity, thereby leaving no question that the peacekeeping force would withdraw post the initial five-year duration, i.e., in 2025. The counter-terrorism operation executed by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on September 19-20, 2023, which culminated in the expulsion of Armenian military forces and the dissolution of the separatist regime within Azerbaijani borders, further cemented this inevitable progression.

Consequently, Azerbaijan reaffirmed its sovereignty over the entirety of the emancipated Garabagh territory. This reality, coupled with the self-directed exodus of the majority of Armenian residents from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan—who declined Azerbaijani citizenship and chose not to abide by the Constitution of Azerbaijan—eliminated any justification for the continued stationing of the Russian Federation's peacekeeping forces in the town of Khankendi and its surrounding locales.

The prompt departure of Russian peacekeeping units from Azerbaijani soil signifies the nation's ultimate liberation from foreign military presence. Azerbaijan has affirmed its status as a genuinely sovereign, self-reliant state, unaffiliated with any military alliances, and is forging normal, partnership-based, and amicable relations with other nations grounded in reciprocal benefit and equal cooperation. This principle is fully reflected in its dealings with Russia, where the alliance is formally recognized in the Declaration of February 22, 2022.

Baku and Moscow have jointly conveyed that the leaders of both countries made the decision regarding the early withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping forces from Azerbaijani territory. The subsequent day after his trip to the Russian Federation, Ilham Aliyev, while addressing the international forum COP29 and the Green Vision for Azerbaijan in Baku, disclosed that "the resolution to pull out troops was reached following consultations between Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijan remains steadfast in honouring its international commitments. Our stance was that if November 2025 is stipulated, then it should be November 2025. Nevertheless, it was mutually understood by both Russia and Azerbaijan that an earlier departure was feasible, yet it remained a collective decision."

The President of Azerbaijan voiced his conviction "that this decision has fortified our relations, as well as the public's perception and esteem of our bilateral ties. It exemplifies that when nations sustain open lines of communication, mutual respect, collaboration, and refrain from adversarial actions, consensus on even the most delicate matters is achievable. This instance serves as unequivocal evidence. We reaffirmed the strategic essence of the Russia-Azerbaijan relationship yesterday. This development is advantageous for our country, and I am convinced it also benefits Russia and the broader region."

Hence, the retraction of the Russian peacekeeping force from Azerbaijani land will assuredly exert a favourable influence on the ongoing enhancement of bilateral relations.

BAM, Economy, Corridors

Economic collaboration stands as a pivotal facet of Azerbaijan's strategic discourse. In this context, Ilham Aliyev's engagement with railway industry veterans and personnel during his Moscow visit, commemorating the Baikal-Amur Mainline's (BAM) 50th anniversary, was symbolic. The construction of this railway was once overseen by Ilham Aliyev's father and antecedent in the presidential office, Heydar Aliyev. From 1982 to 1987, Heydar Aliyev served as the First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Council of Ministers, and his contributions to the nation's advancement are still acknowledged by contemporary Russia, as highlighted by President Putin in his interaction with BAM veterans.

Expressing gratitude to his Russian counterpart for honouring his father's legacy, Ilham Aliyev remarked, "the early 2000s saw Vladimir Putin and Heydar Aliyev establish the bedrock of the amicable, neighbourly relations that exist between our nations today."

The current state of Azerbaijani-Russian relations is aptly demonstrated by economic cooperation metrics. The trade volume between the two countries has surpassed the ₼4 billion threshold. Per the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, by the end of 2023, Russia occupied the third rank among Azerbaijan's trading allies, following Italy and Türkiye.

Aliyev and Putin engaged in substantive discussions on the execution of collaborative regional initiatives, with a particular focus on the North-South international transport corridor. This corridor is poised to connect the Northern Sea Route and Russia with Iran and India via Azerbaijan. Concurrently, the Azerbaijani President unveiled plans for "another monumental project" within the North-South corridor's framework. He recalled the existing railway that bridges the Azerbaijani-Russian and Azerbaijani-Iranian borders within Azerbaijan's territory, emphasising that "the demands of shippers compel us to construct additional segments of this route to amplify freight traffic and thereby forge a singular transit path from the North to the Indian Ocean."

The establishment of another corridor is deemed crucial for both Azerbaijan and Russia. This refers to the Zangezur corridor, envisioned to unite Azerbaijan's western regions with its Nakhchivan autonomy, traversing Armenia. Addressing the forum COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev underscored that, as per the trilateral statement dated 10 November 2020, Russian border forces are tasked with overseeing this transport conduit.

"This accord was endorsed by President Putin, Prime Minister Pashinyan, and myself. For over three years, Armenia has been in breach of this clause. Now, they seek to discard this stipulation. However, this is unfeasible. They are obstructing the establishment of a motor-road link with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Naturally, such conduct is profoundly discouraging," noted the President of Azerbaijan.

The triumph of Azerbaijan in the Garabagh conflict and the subsequent affirmation of its sovereignty over territories liberated from Armenian control have sculpted a new geopolitical contour in the region. The cordial, neighbourly, and equitable relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are integral to this landscape. In his discourse at the COP29 and Green Vision for Azerbaijan conference, Ilham Aliyev alluded to the aspiration of all South Caucasus nations "to cultivate favourable relations with Russia, predicated on mutual respect, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and shared interests." He further noted, "Azerbaijan's experience vividly illustrates the feasibility of this aspiration."

The Azerbaijani head stated, "this subject was also discussed with my Russian counterpart yesterday. We succeeded in devising a cooperative framework that is reciprocally advantageous. There exist certain apprehensions, stereotypes, and propagandistic narratives. Yet, in Azerbaijan's context, it is evident that such concerns are overly exaggerated. Upholding sovereignty, genuine independence, and an autonomous policy, while maintaining amicable ties with Russia, is absolutely possible. The Russian-Azerbaijani relationship is a testament to this reality."

Therefore, it is justifiable to characterise Azerbaijani-Russian relations as a foundational pillar of peace, security, and collaboration in the South Caucasus. The recent developments serve as a testament to the anticipated fortification of these relations, aligning with the interests of Azerbaijan, Russia, and the broader region.