Is Azerbaijan Among Russia's Targets in Europe?

The Russian Navy conducted exercises aimed at preparing to strike targets in Europe with missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads in the event of a potential conflict with NATO. This was reported by the Financial Times.

Journalists from the publication investigated a secret presentation that was prepared before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The documents obtained by the publication also include a list of targets for missiles that can carry both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons.

It is suggested that these maps were created "more for presentation purposes than for operational use." They include a selection of 32 targets for the Russian Navy—NATO facilities in Europe. "The targets of the Russian Baltic Fleet are mainly located in Norway and Germany, including the naval base in Bergen, as well as radar sites and special forces facilities"; "It is assumed that the Russian Northern Fleet would strike defense industry targets, such as the submarine shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in northwest England."

The presentation also reflects how the corresponding strategy could be applied in the Black and Caspian Seas and in the Pacific Ocean, according to the article. "These scenarios include wars with current allies, such as China, Iran, Azerbaijan, and North Korea," writes the Financial Times.

Russian officials have not yet made any statements regarding the documents published by the outlet.

Political commentator Elkhan Shahinoglu shares his opinion on the possibility of such a scenario in the program "Difficult Question." He stated that after Russia's occupation of Ukrainian lands, Russia's relations with the West have become tense, and this is accompanied by an information war. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether the article in the Financial Times reflects reality.

However, the expert did not rule out the possibility that if the situation escalates, Russia could deliver a demonstrative strike on Western targets in the North, Black, and Mediterranean Seas.

At the same time, he noted that the article contains some puzzling points. "If Russia has allied relations with China, Iran, and North Korea, and normal relations with Azerbaijan, then why would it want to go to war with them?" Shahinoglu asked.

In his opinion, all of this seems like actions in the context of an information war, where the adversary's allies (in this case, Russia's) are sent a message that it poses a threat to them as well.

At the same time, the expert acknowledges that, for example, China can in no way be considered a strategic ally of Russia. "Even Belarus is an ally of Russia against its will. Lukashenko was against Russia's war with Ukraine. However, he cannot openly state this because he is dependent on Russia. The countries that are considered allies of Russia are themselves concerned about its actions," Shahinoglu noted.

He did not rule out that information leaks, like the aforementioned publication in the Financial Times, could serve as a trigger for processes unfolding in the Middle East. The expert also noted that these processes will inevitably affect the South Caucasus. "There are power centers that want to plunge our region into a vortex of confrontations," he is convinced.