Putin's Baku visit: A pillar in Azerbaijan's multi-vector foreign policy Matanat Nasibova’s take

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Azerbaijan on 18 August for a two-day state visit. According to media reports, the signing of intergovernmental documents and a joint statement by the heads of state on the results of the talks were scheduled within the framework of the visit. It should be noted that this is the third meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Russia since the outset of 2024. Earlier, the presidents met in Moscow in April and then again in early July on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana.

Vladimir Putin's current visit to Baku is taking place under new conditions. Over the past six years, the situation in the region has changed dramatically. In 2020, Azerbaijan won the Patriotic War. The final stage in the restoration of territorial integrity was the successful anti-terrorist operation carried out in September 2023, as a result of which the Karabakh region was completely liberated from separatist elements.

Several key points should be noted in this context.

Azerbaijan is one of those countries in the post-Soviet space that has managed to build sustainable good-neighborly relations with Russia based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

Against this background, the political interaction between Azerbaijan and Russia acquires special significance. It is one of the priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy aimed at strengthening peace, security, and regional cooperation. It is logical that during the meeting of the leaders of the two countries not only bilateral relations were discussed, but also international and regional issues, including the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

And one more important fact that we cannot but touch upon.

Vladimir Putin's visit to Azerbaijan is taking place against the background of the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. It is worth noting that Azerbaijan maintains close relations with both Russia and Ukraine. After the EU stopped buying Russian gas through Ukraine, the EU stepped up efforts to cooperate with Azerbaijan to fill the gap. The possibility of transporting Azerbaijani gas through Ukrainian gas pipelines is being considered. It should be recalled that this proposal was put forward by the European Union together with Ukraine.

This aspect clearly demonstrates the flexibility and multi-vector nature of Azerbaijani foreign policy, as well as the successful diplomacy of President Aliyev.

This is also exemplified by the productive relations with Iran and some Western countries, despite the existing tensions between them. At the same time, Azerbaijan actively participates in international platforms such as BRICS and SCO, developing cooperation with the European Union and other Western institutions. Moreover, being an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Azerbaijan consistently avoids participation in any military-political blocs.

In addition, thanks to its calibrated relations with key world centers of power, including Russia, Azerbaijan has successfully solved all historical tasks it has faced. Even Ukrainian experts note this, emphasizing that this policy has allowed Azerbaijan not only to avoid becoming an arena of confrontation between the West and Russia but also to achieve its national goals.

We should emphasize that Azerbaijan's peace initiatives are not limited to the settlement of relations with Armenia. Azerbaijan seeks to ensure stability and security on a global scale, which is confirmed by its strong and mutually beneficial ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Given this, Azerbaijan's diplomatic potential can play an important role in the peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

All these factors clearly demonstrate the independence of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, which is considered by the world powers. The Russian leader's state visit to Baku only confirms this fact, being a significant stage in a series of diplomatic steps aimed at bolstering Azerbaijan’s position internationally. It is also in line with the consistent policy of official Baku aimed at maintaining balanced relations with major world players.