Azerbaijani President's Visit to Moscow: Lenin, BAM, North-South

On 22 April, as the world celebrated the birthday of Vladimir Lenin, the architect of the USSR, a landmark diplomatic event took place in Moscow. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived on a one-day visit to the Russian capital, where he held talks with President Vladimir Putin.

It ought to be noted that the meeting between the two Presidents, each representing countries with complex historical ties to the Soviet past, has inevitable geopolitical implications and deserves closer scrutiny.

Note that the visit, formalized according to diplomatic protocol, lacked a clear disclosure of its agenda. However, official statements and gestures contained subtle hints. Prior to the talks, President Aliyev emphasized the importance of regional security, a theme that resonates in the Caucasus region, where Azerbaijan is drawn into a complex web of geopolitical interests. President Putin, on the other hand, drew attention to the growing trade relations between the two countries, and emphasized the importance of logistics in the modern world, using the example of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM), a grandiose project realized at the end of the Soviet Union.

President Aliyev's emphasis on regional security underscores Azerbaijan's deep interest in strengthening stability in the face of persistent geopolitical challenges. Azerbaijan's strategic location, sandwiched between Russia and Iran, amidst growing tensions in the Middle East, underlines the importance of such discussions. Moreover, Azerbaijan's role as an energy exporter further complicates its regional obligations, with implications for global energy security.

What is important to notice is that President Putin's emphasis on trade and infrastructure reflects Russia's broader strategic goals in the region. Of particular note is the reference to BAM, a grand infrastructure project conceived during the Soviet era. Built with the direct involvement of Heydar Aliyev, a former member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee and father of the current President of Azerbaijan, BAM has symbolic and strategic significance. Its revival in the contemporary discourse points to Russia's efforts to strengthen its influence in the eastern territories, as well as to capitalize on Azerbaijan's logistical potential.

Added to this can be that the time chosen for Aliyev's visit - on Lenin's birthday - gives the diplomatic exchange an intriguing flavor. Lenin's legacy, though ideologically distant from the contemporary realities of both Azerbaijan and Russia, serves as a historical backdrop against which contemporary geopolitical maneuvers unfold. The reverberations of the Bolshevik Revolution have travelled through time, also shaping diplomatic relations between the two countries in the 21st century. In considering that the geopolitical fault lines continue to shift, countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia face a complex situation of alliances, rivalries and economic imperatives.

A step towards peace: the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is being resolved through delicate diplomacy

In the face of the Western activity in the South Caucasus, Moscow's efforts to conclude a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia on Russian territory underline its determination to protect its interests in the region. By positioning itself as a mediator and peace facilitator, Russia seeks to maintain its influence in the Caucasus, reaffirming its role as a regional power mediator.

Add that the consultations between the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia, held on the eve of Putin's upcoming meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, are illustrative of Moscow's firm commitment to maintain its leadership of the settlement process. By organizing these diplomatic events, the Kremlin is declaring its intention to maintain influence over the delicate negotiations, underlining its status as the successor to the USSR and therefore a key stakeholder in the resolution of regional conflicts.

It is worth recalling that the central to these discussions is the forthcoming delimitation process, which should begin on the basis of Soviet-era maps. This approach, based on historical precedents, emphasizes the complexity of border delimitation in a region marred by decades of territorial disputes. Citing the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration as a guiding framework, the Armenian and Azerbaijani Commissions demonstrate a willingness to overcome the difficulties on their common border in a spirit of co-operation and mutual recognition of territorial integrity.

It should be remembered that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has already welcomed the delimitation agreement with Baku as a key moment, emphasizing its importance for strengthening sovereignty, independence and reducing security risks along the border.

Iridescent economic prospects: Russia and Azerbaijan are forging closer ties

Statistics show that growing economic ties between Russia and Azerbaijan are becoming a beacon of opportunity. Russian President Vladimir Putin's satisfaction with the record trade turnover, which has surpassed the $4 billion mark, and the $6 billion investment in Azerbaijan is evidence of a strong economic partnership.

Central to this is the approval of the roadmap for Russian-Azerbaijani economic co-operation until 2026, which was signed during Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's visit to Azerbaijan in March this year. While the detailed content of this roadmap remains confidential, reports indicate its comprehensive nature, covering various sectors such as trade, investment, transport, industry and agriculture.

Note that Mishustin's recognition of the vast opportunities for co-operation in sectors such as energy, industry, shipbuilding, agriculture and innovation reflects a shared vision of economic progress.

Although Russia maintains its position as Azerbaijan's third largest trading partner after the EU and Turkey, the growing share of Russia-Azerbaijan trade underlines its key role in Azerbaijan's foreign trade. This upward trend is a reflection of the steady growth in bilateral trade relations, which points to promising prospects for future economic co-operation.

The North-South direction: a strategic turn in Russian-Azerbaijani relations

With growing economic ties, the North-South transport corridor has taken centre stage as a strategic channel for deepening cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan.

In view of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) in July, the Russian President's call on Azerbaijan to repeat this feat in opening the transport corridor underlines the importance of the North-South initiative. Mentioning Heydar Aliyev's role in the development of the Trans-Siberian Railway, Putin expresses a shared vision of expanding transport links and trade prospects through Azerbaijan, Iran and other countries. Despite its shorter length as compared to the Siberian route, the strategic importance of the North-South corridor is significant in the geopolitical calculations of both countries.

It has to be noted that in the complex structure of Russia-Azerbaijan economic relations, the logistics and transport infrastructure are key sectors driving efforts to deepen ties and trade. Mishustin's recent visit to Azerbaijan underscored a shared commitment to strengthening logistics infrastructure to facilitate trade flows and strengthen bilateral relations.

Given this, the main item on Mishustin's agenda was to accelerate efforts on modernizing border crossings between Moscow and Baku, culminating in the signing of a comprehensive roadmap for 2024-2026 aimed at increasing capacity to 3,000 vehicles per day. This strategic initiative aims to optimize cross-border trade processes, reduce transit times and improve the efficiency of bilateral trade.

Aside from the border crossings, both Russia and Azerbaijan are seeking wider improvements in transport infrastructure, especially along the western route of the international North-South corridor. This vital trade artery linking Europe and Asia has enormous economic potential, making its expansion crucial for both countries.

For Russia, the development of the Azerbaijani segment of the North-South corridor is in keeping with its strategic orientation towards the Asian and Persian Gulf markets. The ambitious goals set for Russian freight traffic along this corridor require concerted efforts to modernize and expand transport infrastructure.

A promising way forward: strengthening Russian-Azerbaijani relations

It should be recognized that President Aliyev's visit to Moscow on Lenin's birthday was filled with historical symbolism and strategic considerations. As Moscow seeks to strengthen its role as a key player in the South Caucasus and beyond, the conversations with Aliyev exemplify how the legacy of the past is intertwined with contemporary geopolitical and economic aspirations.

The results of the meeting that covered regional security, economic co-operation and infrastructure development, illustrate the dynamic interplay of mutual interests. Thus, these developments are not only a direct response to current regional dynamics, but also indicate a deeper interaction aimed at shaping the future course of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations. This delicate balance between historical ties and future ambitions once again confirm that Moscow remains a key player in the region.