New Horizons for Cooperation: Putin's Visit to Azerbaijan and Integration into BRICS

Putin's visit to Azerbaijan opened up new prospects for cooperation. Azerbaijan is seeking to join BRICS, strengthening ties with Russia and playing a key role in the South Caucasus.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to Azerbaijan, which was his third meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2024.

New dynamics in Russian-Azerbaijani relations

The main difference of the current stage of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan is the weakening of the influence of the Armenian factor, which previously was a significant obstacle to closer cooperation.

Armenia, dissatisfied with the loss of Karabakh and blaming Russia for its failure, began active attempts to get closer to the West, which was expressed in anti-Russian rhetoric and refusal to participate in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Strengthening ties with Azerbaijan

Vladimir Putin's visit to Baku was a significant event not only because of its symbolic nature, but also because of its concrete achievementsDuring the meeting, three agreements and three memorandums were signed, which underscores the desire to develop a strategic partnership. Azerbaijan, which has significant oil and gas reserves, is an important economic partner for Russia.

Baku's position has also become more clear in the context of its aspiration to integrate into international organizations such as BRICS. Azerbaijan has expressed its desire to join this union, which was confirmed by Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu. He noted that there is a queue of countries wishing to join BRICS, and Azerbaijan is actively discussing this issue with its Russian colleagues.

Economic cooperation and prospects

Economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan also continue to develop. A significant portion of trade operations are conducted in national currencies, which reduces dependence on the dollar and strengthens the financial independence of the countries.

Azerbaijan is actively involved in the implementation of the North-South transport corridor, which connects Russia with the Persian Gulf through Azerbaijani territory.

Azerbaijan remains the only country in the South Caucasus that retains the Russian language in the education system, which testifies to the deep cultural and humanitarian ties with Russia. There are more than 300 schools in Azerbaijan with instruction in Russian, as well as branches of Russian universities, such as Moscow State University and the First Moscow State Medical University.

The strategic importance of Azerbaijan for Russia

The partnership with Baku allows Moscow not only to strengthen its position in the South Caucasus, but also to establish cooperation with Iran, with which Azerbaijan has close cultural and historical ties. This factor is especially important against the backdrop of growing Western pressure on Russia and Iran. President Aliyev, who understands the importance of cooperation with Moscow, actively supports the development of bilateral relations.

Author's opinion. Originally just an acronym for emerging markets, BRICS has now become a significant force in global politics and economics. Until recently, BRICS lacked a clear economic foundation at the global level, and its trade and investment ties remained overshadowed by the American economy. But recent expansions, including the entry of new countries and the bid by Azerbaijan, have begun to create an economic core that could change the world order.

One important element of this new order will be the North-South corridor, which runs through the Caspian region and includes Iran. This corridor connects Eurasia with the Indian Ocean, providing access to countries such as Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia and Africa. It is not just a logistics route, but a new axis of global development that could cause major changes in the world economy.

Africa is of particular importance, where a second wave of decolonization and new industrialization are taking place. These processes will lead to the creation of new production capacities and increased economic activity on the continent. As a result, in the new world order formed around these processes, the dollar may lose its dominant position in international settlements, which will become an important aspect of the coming changes.

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