Azerbaijan finds itself embroiled in a tense diplomatic standoff as it protests against an upcoming summit involving Armenia, the USA, and the EU. The Azerbaijani government fears that such a gathering could reignite tensions with Armenia, potentially undoing the recent military gains made by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has raised concerns about Armenia’s alleged troop concentration along the border, warning of a potential escalation in hostilities. However, EU observers stationed on the Armenian side have reported no unusual military activity, contradicting Azerbaijan’s claims.
Adding fuel to the fire, Azerbaijani officials have been criticized for their clumsy handling of diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s complaint to a Russian delegation about the Armenia-EU-USA summit risks dragging Azerbaijan into a geopolitical confrontation between Russia and the West.
Furthermore, Presidential Advisor Hikmat Hajiyev’s recent visit to China was marred by anti-Western rhetoric, grammatical errors, and protocol blunders, highlighting the incompetence of Azerbaijani officials on the world stage. Hajiyev’s subsequent meeting with a US envoy to discuss anti-Iran perspectives further complicates matters, especially considering Iran’s significant geopolitical importance as a neighbor with a lengthy border with Azerbaijan. Hajiyev’s erratic behavior, including his recent harsh anti-US statements and contradictory remarks, only exacerbates the precarious situation Azerbaijan finds itself in.
Amidst these developments, the latest phone conversation between Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has added to the diplomatic and geopolitical quagmire. President Aliyev sounded discontent due to the upcoming summit, reiterating his concerns that it aims to bolster Armenian military and security capabilities against Azerbaijan. However, Secretary Blinken confirmed EU mission observations that no Armenian military activity is being conducted and cautioned Azerbaijan against inflammatory rhetoric and actions.
This latest exchange indicates the corruption and incompetence within Azeri diplomacy, as corrupt foreign policy establishment pushed the president into a hard and complicated geopolitical and diplomatic dispute. This has left Azerbaijan isolated against the USA and EU-friendly Armenia, backed militarily by France.
With a series of controversial, poorly navigated, and incompetent actions, Azerbaijani officials have inadvertently plunged their country into a precarious regional and geopolitical quagmire. As tensions simmer and diplomatic missteps continue, Azerbaijan risks undermining its own security and stability in the region. It is imperative for Azerbaijani government to reform its foreign service to adopt a more measured and skillful approach to diplomacy to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape effectively.
