On April 25, the EU\u2019s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas paid a visit to Azerbaijan. This was the first visit of the EU\u2019s top diplomat to Baku in the past nine years. Both sides gave positive messages during the visit about the existing situation in bilateral relations and future prospects. President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan\u2019s position as a dependable EU partner, drawing attention to the Southern Gas Corridor\u2019s steady supply of natural gas to Europe over the past four years. Currently, ten European nations \u2013 eight of them EU members \u2013 receive Azerbaijani gas, positioning Baku as a major contributor to the continent\u2019s energy security. Aliyev also pointed to effective collaboration under the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council and noted promising opportunities in renewable energy. Azerbaijan\u2019s involvement in advancing the Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor and joint Black Sea energy projects with countries like Georgia, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria was also underscored.<\/p>\n
Kallas also acknowledged Baku\u2019s strategic energy role and expressed interest in deepening ties. Her discussions with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also covered regional peace and post-conflict normalization, with Baku reiterating that constitutional changes in Armenia are essential for a peace deal. Bayramov concluded the visit with optimism, noting progress toward finalizing a new EU\u2013Azerbaijan agreement, which is nearly (90-95 percent) complete.<\/p>\n
Despite the positive tone surrounding Kaja Kallas\u2019s visit, it is important to recognize that EU\u2013Azerbaijan relations have yet to reach their full potential. Several developments have strained the bilateral relationship. Chief among Azerbaijan\u2019s concerns is the deployment of a monitoring mission by the EU and Canada along the Armenia\u2013Azerbaijan border. Baku has rejected Western assurances that the mission is strictly civilian in nature and has no military or intelligence objectives. The mission\u2019s mandate has been extended twice without Azerbaijan\u2019s consent, further exacerbating tensions. From Baku\u2019s perspective, this was an unfriendly gesture, particularly given that the EU took no comparable action during the decades-long occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia, yet responded promptly when Armenia perceived a threat to its own security.<\/p>\n
The one-sided resolutions of the European Parliament and statements by former High Representative Josep Borrell further fueled tensions. EU institutions quickly allocated funds to Armenia\u2019s militarization through the European Peace Facility, as well as to infrastructure projects in the country, while failing to adequately address the immense challenges Azerbaijan faces in rebuilding settlements that were destroyed and heavily mined \u2013 an estimated 1.5 million landmines \u2013 during the period of Armenian occupation.<\/p>\n
The signals and messages from both sides following Kallas\u2019s visit to Baku indicate not only a positive momentum but also a clear geopolitical imperative to overcome existing challenges and open a new chapter in EU\u2013Azerbaijan relations. The tense dynamics in the South Caucasus, coupled with increasingly strained relations between Russia and the regional states, have generated significant uncertainty about the region\u2019s future. The ongoing crisis in Azerbaijan\u2013Russia relations following the December 2024 plane crash, the ambiguity surrounding Russia\u2013Armenia ties ahead of Armenia\u2019s upcoming parliamentary elections, and the deepening political turmoil in Georgia all call for a more nuanced and systematic approach from the EU. The Union should also aim to fill the vacuum left by the Trump administration\u2019s retreat from security commitments in Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n
In this context, a revised and more balanced EU strategy toward Azerbaijan \u2013 as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process \u2013 is essential. With Baku and Yerevan having reached a draft agreement on a peace treaty, which likely entails the withdrawal of the EU monitoring mission from the border, the Union\u2019s constructive involvement in resolving the remaining issues could be particularly valuable. One area where the EU could offer meaningful support is in facilitating constitutional reform in Armenia, specifically the removal of the reference from the constitution to the Declaration of Independence that asserts territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Notably, the Armenian government has already acknowledged the necessity of such amendments. In addition, the EU could assume a facilitating role in advancing negotiations over the Zangezur corridor, contributing to regional connectivity and stability.<\/p>\n
The EU could also seek to restore its soft power in the region, particularly in Azerbaijan, where its image has been undermined by the aforementioned biased statements and actions. A meaningful step in this direction would be to support reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories. Contributing to the construction of schools and hospitals under the EU\u2019s flag in these areas could help win the goodwill of the Azerbaijani public and foster a more positive and collaborative environment for engagement with the government. In this context, the\u00a0statement<\/a>\u00a0by the European External Action Service in mid-April \u2013 prior to Kaja Kallas\u2019s visit \u2013 regarding the EU\u2019s plan to allocate \u20ac10 million for the International Centre of Excellence and Training for Mine Action for 2024\u20132025, and the accompanying announcement that this would bring the EU\u2019s total support for demining operations in Azerbaijan to approximately \u20ac23 million, was an important and timely step.<\/p>\n In conclusion, the time is ripe for Azerbaijan and the European Union to revitalize and deepen their partnership. The recent high-level exchanges have demonstrated a mutual willingness to reset the tone of bilateral relations and capitalize on shared strategic interests, particularly in energy cooperation, regional stability, and post-conflict recovery. To translate this momentum into lasting progress, the EU can adopt a more balanced and inclusive approach that recognizes Azerbaijan\u2019s legitimate concerns and contributions. Prioritizing equitable engagement in peacebuilding, supporting reconstruction in the formerly occupied territories, and promoting infrastructure and connectivity projects across the region will not only enhance the EU\u2019s credibility but also contribute to long-term peace and integration in the South Caucasus. With geopolitical tensions rising and regional dynamics rapidly evolving, a forward-looking, constructive EU-Azerbaijan partnership is not just desirable \u2013 it is imperative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On April 25, the EU\u2019s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas paid a visit to Azerbaijan. This was the first visit of the EU\u2019s top diplomat to Baku in the past nine years. Both sides gave positive messages during the visit about the existing situation in bilateral relations and future prospects….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-center","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1044"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1046,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1044\/revisions\/1046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/think-tanks.az\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}