Russia and Azerbaijan agreed to strengthen their cooperation during a meeting in Baku on Monday between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev.
After the talks, Putin said the leaders discussed joint initiatives, including the construction of small tankers to transport oil from the Caspian and Black Seas to the Mediterranean.
Cooperation in higher education must also be strengthened, according to the chairmen.
“I want to say that we are very satisfied with the level of cooperation between our countries,” Aliyev told Putin.
Putin’s two-day state visit marks a shift in alliances in the politically volatile Caucasus region.
Azerbaijan, an oil-rich republic on the Caspian Sea, is a major energy supplier to the European Union. The country has previously pursued policies largely independent of Moscow.
Russia, Armenia’s traditional protector in the Caucasus, watched as Armenia turned away in disappointment after Moscow allowed Azerbaijan to retake the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023.
Russia refused to intervene on Yerevan’s side. After years of conflict, the Armenian population fled the mountainous region in September 2023, fearing reprisals.
Putin stated that Russia is eager to help achieve peace between Yerevan and Baku and that he plans to inform Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about his talks with Aliyev.
A joint statement by Aliyev and Putin stressed the “deep trust” between the leaders, which allowed them to discuss bilateral and international issues.
Aliyev, who has been criticized for serious human rights violations, visited Moscow in April.
