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

List of Key Chapter Titles

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 of Azerbaijan-Russia Bilateral Relations
5. Russia's Role and Position on Azerbaijan's Territorial Integrity (1920-2020)
6. Prospects for Russia-Azerbaijan Relations under Conditions of Structural Transformation: Geographic and Geopolitical Aspects
7. Russia's Role and Position in the New Geopolitical Reality of the South Caucasus
8. Russia-Azerbaijan Economic Interaction: Reality and Prospects
9. The Caspian Dimension of Azerbaijan-Russia Dialogue
10. Russia – Azerbaijan as Strategic Partners in the Field of Weapons and Military 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 Azerbaijan Center for Analysis of International Relations, bringing together in-depth research from leading international relations scholars of both countries. It aims to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Russia. The report not only reviews the three-decade development of bilateral relations since the dissolution of the USSR, marked by ups and downs, but also focuses on the dramatically reshaped geopolitical landscape in the South Caucasus following the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020, providing a forward-looking analysis of the future prospects of bilateral relations.

The report covers multiple dimensions including politics, security, economy, energy, transportation, and humanitarian aspects. At the political-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 and the signing of the "Declaration on Allied Interaction" in 2022. The report places particular emphasis on analyzing Russia's key 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 interethnic conflict since the late 1980s.

In the field of economy and regional cooperation, the report assesses the current status and potential of Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation in trade, energy (particularly Caspian resource development and transportation), and military-technical cooperation. The research emphasizes that Azerbaijan, with its unique geographical location, energy resources, and balanced foreign policy, has become a key hub connecting the East-West and North-South transport corridors across Eurasia (such as the East-West Trans-Caspian Corridor and the International North-South Transport Corridor). The report explores the prospects of new transport 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 representing a trend of regional issues being addressed primarily by regional states themselves. Scholars point out that Azerbaijan's simultaneous establishment of allied relations with both Russia and Turkey creates preconditions 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 comprehensive 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.