Year of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan: The Path Traveled and Future Prospects

Key Chapter Title List

1. Political and Diplomatic Relations: Stages of Formation and Development
2. Russia-Azerbaijan Relations: The Regional Dimension
3. Russia's Role in the Normalization Process of Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations
4. Resolution of the Karabakh Conflict: A New Level in Azerbaijan-Russia Bilateral Relations
5. Russia's Role and Position on Azerbaijan's Territorial Integrity from 1920 to 2020
6. Prospects of Russia-Azerbaijan Relations under Conditions of Constructive Transformation: Geographical and Geopolitical Aspects
7. Russia's Role and Position in the New Geopolitical Realities of the South Caucasus
8. Economic Interaction between Russia and Azerbaijan: Reality and Prospects
9. The Caspian Aspect of Azerbaijan-Russia Dialogue
10. Russia – A Strategic Partner of Azerbaijan in the Field of Weapons and Equipment
11. 30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation: The Humanitarian Aspect of Interstate Cooperation

Document Introduction

This report is jointly compiled by the Russian International Affairs Council and the Center for Analysis of International Relations of Azerbaijan, bringing together in-depth research from top international relations scholars from both countries. It aims to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. The report not only reviews the three-decade development of bilateral relations, marked by fluctuations since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, but also focuses on the drastically reshaped geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. It provides a forward-looking analysis of the future prospects of bilateral relations.

The report covers multiple dimensions including politics, security, economy, energy, transportation, and humanitarian affairs. At the political and security level, the study meticulously traces the evolution of bilateral relations from initial mutual suspicion and multiple crises to the gradual development into a strategic partnership, culminating in the signing of the "Declaration on Allied Interaction" in 2022. The report places particular emphasis on analyzing Russia's crucial mediating role in resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, including facilitating the trilateral ceasefire statement on November 10, 2020, and the subsequent deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces. It argues that this significantly enhanced Russia's prestige in the region and ended the most destructive inter-ethnic conflict since the late 1980s.

In the field of economy and regional cooperation, the report assesses the current status and potential of Russia-Azerbaijan collaboration in trade, energy (particularly the development and transportation of Caspian resources), and military-technical cooperation. The research emphasizes that Azerbaijan, leveraging its unique geographical location, energy resources, and balanced foreign policy, has become a key hub connecting East-West and North-South transport corridors across Eurasia (such as the East-West Trans-Caspian Corridor and the North-South International Transport Corridor). The report explores the prospects of new transportation projects like the Zangezur Corridor and the possibility of deepening dialogue between Azerbaijan and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The report also delves into new forms of regional multilateral cooperation, such as the 3+3 regional consultation platform (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Turkey), viewing it as representative of a trend where regional countries take the lead in solving regional problems. Scholars point out that Azerbaijan's establishment of alliance relations with both Russia and Turkey creates a premise for the strategic convergence of key regional players, having profound implications for the long-term stability and security architecture of the South Caucasus.

This collection, based on detailed historical archives, official documents, and the latest data, reflects the diverse perspectives and in-depth thinking of Azerbaijani and Russian expert communities on bilateral and regional issues. It serves as an indispensable and authoritative reference for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand the complex dynamics of the Caucasus region.