Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s two-day trip to Azerbaijan focused on securing Moscow’s under-pressure trade routes and strengthening ties in the South Caucasus region. High on the agenda was improving business links between the two nations, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announcing a plan to allocate 120 million dollars to boost cargo transportation between Russia and Azerbaijan. The aim is to transport 15 million tons of cargo per year or more, with the two nations having already surpassed the four billion mark in turnover last year.
The significance of these ties lies in the growing dependence of Russia on countries like Azerbaijan to access global markets, given the sanctions imposed on Moscow over its war on Ukraine. As independent political scientist Zardusht Alizade explained, “Azerbaijan is an important transit country for Russia at a time when it needs to have free access to world markets, including Iran and ports in the Indian Ocean.” For its part, Azerbaijan values maintaining good relations with Moscow for its national security, particularly in light of tensions with neighboring Armenia.
Vladimir Putin (Image via Getty)
The relationship between Russia and Armenia has become increasingly strained since September 2023, when Azerbaijan launched a military campaign that ended three decades of ethnic Armenian separatist rule in the Karabakh region. Armenia accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to stop the Azerbaijani onslaught, a charge Moscow rejected, citing a lack of mandate to intervene. Despite this, Baku still hopes that Moscow can exert pressure on Armenia to normalize relations.
Alizade believes that Russia can play a key role in resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute, stating, “Russia can speed up the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations.” With this trip, Putin is emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong ties with Azerbaijan and strengthening its trade routes, while also sending a message to Armenia that Moscow is willing to exert its influence in the region. The successful visit sets the tone for future cooperation between the two nations and underscores the relevance of Azerbaijan in Russia’s global trade ambitions.
