NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that Azerbaijan is a very important country for NATO in terms of energy security. According to him, increased gas export from Azerbaijan freed NATO members from Russian dependence. Considering that the Caucasian countries are in danger of being invaded, what plans does NATO have for the region?
Speaking to Ednews on the subject, Hungarian economist-expert Vasa László said that İran and Russia are the main oppenents to Azerbaijan's increased gas exports to Europe:
"President Aliyev's good sense of foreign policy is clearly demonstrated by the fact that, while some Western countries strongly criticize Azerbaijan due to the liberation of Karabakh and even threaten it with sanctions, the Secretary General of NATO visits Baku and holds constructive and friendly-supportive discussions. Azerbaijan's sovereign, multi-vector foreign policy is based on maintaining good relations with all countries and alliances.
Baku intends to have a good relationship with Western organizations while maintaining the appropriate distance. An important part of NATO's neighborhood and partnership policy is the system of constructive relations with the countries concerned and their involvement in various training and peacekeeping programs. However, all this does not mean a commitment or an expression of values on the part of Azerbaijan. We should also not forget the fact that Turkey, Azerbaijan's strategic partner based on brotherhood, is one of the most important NATO member states.
Nevertheless, Secretary General Stoltenberg's concern that Russia will attack the countries of the Caucasus after Ukraine is, in my opinion, unfounded. On the one hand, Russia is exhausted in the war against Ukraine, and on the other hand, its security is much better guaranteed by a friendly, but at least neutral, relationship with neighboring countries than by occupying them - if only because extraordinary energy would be consumed by the military policing of countries of non-Russian ethnicity that may be occupied.
At the instigation of the USA, panic is being created in the Western world, as they are trying to maintain Ukraine's financial support from Western countries, as there are more and more skeptical voices regarding Ukraine's chances of victory. NATO's befriending of countries neighboring Russia is primarily aimed at annoying Moscow, rather than any alliance expansion. The flattering words of the Secretary-General about the importance of Azerbaijan in terms of Western energy supply are somewhat exaggerated since, even years from now, it will only be able to satisfy a fraction of the needs.
Nevertheless, due to the closure of the Friendship pipeline at the end of the year, Baku's role will be even more valued as a diversification opportunity. Azeri gas deliveries could grow exponentially if the planned Caspian pipelines were built, the biggest opponents of which, however, are Russia and Iran".
Farid Akhund
