During his first visit to the Caucasus since 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Baku, where he expressed Russia’s willingness to mediate peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This announcement comes after Azerbaijan’s recent recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave within Azerbaijani territory that had been under ethnic Armenian control. The visit underscores Moscow’s desire to reaffirm its influence in the region amidst Armenia’s growing inclination towards the West and the West’s interest in Azerbaijan’s natural gas to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
- Putin landed in Baku on Sunday night, marking his first visit to the Caucasus since 2018.
- Dinner with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev followed his arrival.
- Putin offered Russia’s assistance in mediating peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, focusing on border delimitation and unblocking economic movements.
- In 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia engaged in a six-week war over Nagorno-Karabakh, an area within Azerbaijani territory but controlled by ethnic Armenians for decades.
- Azerbaijan recaptured Nagorno-Karabakh in a swift offensive in September 2023.
- Armenia, feeling abandoned by Moscow’s lack of intervention, has been increasingly seeking support from the West.
- The West is also engaging with Azerbaijan to purchase its natural gas, aiming to reduce dependency on Russian energy.
- Putin’s visit signifies Russia’s effort to reassert its influence in the region, which it considers within its sphere of influence.
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