On the reasons for the ongoing aggravation of relations between Azerbaijan and France

Baku/28.12.23/Turan: In a tit-for-tat diplomatic move, Azerbaijan has declared two employees of the French Embassy in Baku persona non grata, prompting a swift response from France, which reciprocated with similar measures against two Azerbaijani Embassy staffers in Paris. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on December 27, acknowledging Azerbaijan's decision while vehemently denying the allegations put forth by Baku.

The French statement asserted, "France takes note of Azerbaijan's decision to declare two employees from among the diplomatic staff of the French Embassy in Azerbaijan persona non grata. She categorically denies the allegations by which Azerbaijan justified its decision. As a retaliatory measure, France has declared two employees of the Azerbaijani Embassy in France persona non grata."

The exact details surrounding the personnel declared persona non grata have not been disclosed by either side. On December 26, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Anne Boillon was summoned to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, where she was informed that two French diplomats were being expelled due to "activities that do not correspond to diplomatic status and contradict the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." The Azerbaijani government handed a corresponding note demanding the departure of these diplomats within 48 hours.

Political scientist Ahmed Alili, commenting on the situation, noted recent tensions between Paris and Baku, including the dismantling of a monument to the poet Khurshidban Natavan in France. Alili suggested that this incident signaled a new phase of strain in relations. Additionally, reports surfaced about the exposure of an extensive network of French intelligence agencies engaged in operations across various countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

Alili emphasized that while both sides remained tight-lipped about the reported intelligence network, the summoning of the French ambassador and the subsequent expulsion of diplomats indicated a breakdown in efforts to stabilize relations. He pointed out that the lack of detailed information about ongoing developments made it challenging to predict the impact on France-Azerbaijan relations.

The political scientist further speculated that French President Emmanuel Macron's consistent engagement with the Armenian diaspora might be a strategy to curb the rise of right-wing radical forces in France. The complex interplay of political factors and limited information leaves observers with uncertainties about the future trajectory of diplomatic relations between France and Azerbaijan, as both nations navigate the fallout from the recent persona non grata declarations.