Azerbaijan is strategically important for both Russia and the United States. This importance stems from Azerbaijan's geographical location, energy resources, and geopolitical role. Here is a detailed analysis:

1. Geographical Location: Caucasus and Geostrategic Connections

• Bridge Between East and West: Azerbaijan is an important transit point between Europe and Asia. Its location on the Caspian Sea coast plays a key role in controlling energy and trade routes.
• Balance of Power in the Caucasus: Azerbaijan is located on Russia's southern border and is an important region for Russia to maintain its influence in the Caucasus.
• China's Belt and Road Initiative: Azerbaijan is an important part of China's land and sea routes to Europe within the scope of the Belt and Road project.

2. Energy Resources and Energy Policies

Rich Natural Resources

• Azerbaijan has rich oil and natural gas reserves. Baku's oil resources have attracted worldwide attention for centuries.
• Caspian Sea Gas Reserves: Azerbaijan is a country with access to important energy resources in the Caspian Sea.

Energy Cooperation with the West

• Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil Pipeline, Azerbaijan is moving its energy resources to the West, bypassing Russia. This is a strategic step towards reducing Europe's dependence on Russian energy.
• The United States supports Azerbaijan as an alternative for Europe's energy security.

Energy Competition with Russia

• Russia wants to control the redirection of Azerbaijan's energy resources to the West and maintain its influence on the Caspian Sea.
• Moscow exerts political and economic pressure to keep Azerbaijan in its sphere of influence in terms of energy.

3. Geopolitical Role and Security Policies

The West's Strategy in the Caucasus

• Azerbaijan as a counterweight to Russia and Iran. The fact that Azerbaijan is independent and cooperates with the West increases the influence of the United States in the region.
• Cooperation with NATO: Azerbaijan participates in various NATO projects and cooperates with the West in the field of defense.

Russia's sphere of influence

• Russia wants to keep the former Soviet countries in its sphere of influence. For this reason, Azerbaijan is closely monitored by Moscow.
• Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): Although Azerbaijan is not a member, Russia is trying to increase its influence in the region through this organization.

4. Nagorno-Karabakh and Regional Conflicts

• The Role of the U.S. and Europe: Although the West supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, it has to balance its relations with Armenia.
• Russia's Mediation: After the Second Karabakh War in 2020, Russia established control over the region by deploying peacekeepers during the ceasefire process. Azerbaijan carefully manages this balance between Russia and the West.

5. Border and Security Factor with Iran

• The Iranian Factor: Azerbaijan's relations with Iran, on its southern border, are important for the United States. The United States, which wants to limit Iran's influence in the Caspian Sea, aims to increase cooperation with Azerbaijan.
• :Russia's Balance Policy: A possible conflict between Iran and Azerbaijan is critical for Russia to maintain the balances in the region.

Conclusion: Bidirectional Balances

• Importance for Russia: Azerbaijan is a key actor for the geopolitical balance and control of Russia's energy policies in the Caucasus.
• Importance for the USA: Azerbaijan is a strategic partner for Europe's energy security, a counterweight to Iran, and a limit to Russia's influence.

Azerbaijan's efforts to maintain its independence by pursuing a balanced foreign policy with both Russia and the United States continue to be one of the main elements of stability in the region.

Lesson Summary

The text discusses a journalist program from the 2000s where the narrator travels to various hot regions worldwide, including Azerbaijan, to observe the country's strategic moves during that period. The program focused on the efforts of the Kremlin and the United States to secure Azerbaijan's support, with translations and subtitles by M.K.

• Azerbaijan is strategically important for both Russia and the United States due to factors such as:
• Geographical location as a bridge between East and West
• Abundance of energy resources
• Geopolitical role in maintaining power balance in the Caucasus
• Azerbaijan's energy policies, including projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, are crucial for:
• Reducing Europe's reliance on Russian energy
• Influencing energy competition with Russia
• Regarding geopolitical role and security policies:
• Azerbaijan counters Russia and Iran, enhancing U.S. influence in the region
• Touches on regional conflicts like Nagorno-Karabakh
• Discusses border and security issues with Iran
• Azerbaijan's efforts to maintain independence by balancing foreign policy with Russia and the U.S. are emphasized as:
• Key to stability in the region