Russia and Azerbaijan have agreed to strengthen their cooperation during a meeting in Baku on Monday between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev.
Following the talks, Putin said the leaders discussed joint initiatives, including the construction of small tankers designed to transport oil from the Caspian and Black Sea regions to the Mediterranean.
The cooperation in the higher education sector is also to be strengthened, the presidents stated.
“I would like to say that we are very satisfied with the level of cooperation between our countries,” Aliyev told Putin.
Putin’s two-day state visit marks a shift in alliances in the politically unstable Caucasus region.
Azerbaijan, an oil-rich republic on the Caspian Sea, is an important energy supplier for the European Union. The country has previously pursued a policy largely independent of Moscow.
Russia, traditionally the protector of Armenia in the Caucasus, has seen Armenia turn away out of disappointment that Moscow allowed Azerbaijan to retake the long-disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023.
Russia refused to intervene on Yerevan’s side. Following years of conflict, the Armenian population fled the mountainous region in September 2023, out of fear of reprisals.
Putin stated that Russia would be happy to help achieve peace between Yerevan and Baku and plans to inform Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about his conversation with Aliyev.
A joint statement by Aliyev and Putin emphasized the “deep trust” between the leaders, allowing them to discuss bilateral and international issues.
Aliyev, criticized for severe human rights violations, visited Moscow in April.
