NEWTIMES

Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev visited Azerbaijan immediately after John Bolton`s tour of Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Poland. For experts, the visit came as a surprise as much as the US Security Adviser` s trip. Interestingly, Patrushev visited Armenia in August. Experts believe it`s not a coincidence because senior security officials of two superpowers, which are at loggerheads over geopolitical influence in Eurasia, visited two geopolitically volatile regions. What they came with? Both officials affirmed their countries` commitment to the issue of security. But what does really lie behind these statements? In particular, which issues did dominate Patrushev`s agenda?

Issues surrounding the preparation of a new cooperation document between the European Union and Azerbaijan have recently provoked lively debates. Different opinions are voiced, with some contradicting each other. Official Baku remains patient and committed to its realistic attitude, saying negotiations on the partnership agreement continue successfully. In this regard, experts should focus on one critical point. Azerbaijan prefers equal relations based on mutual respect with countries and international organizations. Protecting sovereignty and national interests is number one priority. As Azerbaijan was dissatisfied with some terms featured in the European Union`s Eastern Partnership program, the country put forward its own cooperation model. And fruitful talks are now being held in this regard.

In the middle of the last century the world was searching for mechanisms to regulate the system of international relations. The establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1955 was a crucial outcome of those efforts. Its fundamental principles were adopted at the founding non-aligned summit in Belgrade in 1961. These principles included establishing global peace, tranquility, peaceful co-existence and principles of fair cooperation. Experience showed that the world needed such an organization badly. Although interest in the Non-Aligned Movement decreased after the Cold War to some extent, later processes highlighted global need in this organization. Many countries are therefore interested in the Non-Aligned Movement becoming stronger. Azerbaijan is assuming two-year chairmanship of the organization this year.

Experts highlight the global geopolitical importance of the Caspian basin. And what is of particular significance here apart from security in the region, is the issue of cooperation. The signing of a set of documents on the legal status of the Caspian Sea in 2018 opened brand new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. In this regard, the Caspian Economic Forum is of particular interest as a unique cooperation format. Held in Turkmenistan, the first Economic Forum gathered high-level representatives from both the Caspian littoral states and several other countries. This means that this cooperation format may win serious global support. This thesis seems to be much more convincing taking into account the views expressed at the forum.

It is a well-known fact that settlement of ethnic and local conflicts in different parts of the world remains the main global geopolitical challenge. Particularly, finding a fair and peaceful solution to conflicts in the South Caucasus is high on the agenda. The OSCE Minsk Group, which is dealing with the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, is working ineffectively. In some cases, international organizations` documents on the issue do not reflect the reality. From this point of view, the document adopted at the annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) in Luxembourg is of great interest. The document features important views. It provoked inadequate reaction from Armenians because it reflects the reality. This article will analyze the provisions of the document from a geopolitical perspective.

The meeting between generals Tod Wolters and Valery Gerasimov in Baku has grabbed experts` interest from a number of perspectives. The two global military superpowers` discussing critical issues in Baku is not a regular occasion. Experts analyze the reasons why the USA and Russia chose Baku as the venue of the meetings of their military leaders. A number of factors obviously play a role here. As a young state, Azerbaijan is making great strides. Its international influence is rising quickly. As the host of high-profile international events, Azerbaijan is recognized as a stable and reliable partner. So it looks normal that Washington and Moscow chose exactly Baku to discuss key military matters. This article will look at the geopolitical impact of the two generals` Baku meeting.

Some experts are alleging that Azerbaijan-European Union relations experience tough times and that Brussels even hesitates to recognize Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity. But Donald Tusk`s visit to the region clarified the situation. His remarks refuted the provocative allegations. Donald Tusk described the EU`s relations with Azerbaijan as strategic and very important. Brussels recognizes Azerbaijan as a powerful state and the leader of the South Caucasus. This shows that the relationship with Baku influences greatly the geopolitical picture of the region. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed this following his meeting with Donald Tusk. This article will highlight the geopolitical importance of Donald Tusk`s visit to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Turkey maintain a special relationship defined by a long history of events and cultural and ethnic connections. Azerbaijanis and Turks belong to the same Turkic identity and share a common ancestor - the Seljuk Empire made up of Oghuz Turks, which represents the foundation to the present-day Turkey and Azerbaijan. Both nations are geographically close, and Azerbaijan is the only Turkic state sharing a small border with Turkey through Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan region. All this has contributed to the build-up of special ties between modern-day Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe hosted the fifth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The heads of state and government discussed the ways of making the region safer and more developed and also focused on the existing dangers, risks and threats. Azerbaijan was represented by Prime Minister Novruz Mammadov. In his speech at the Summit, the Prime Minister highlighted a number of issues and reiterated the necessity of finding a solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Summit heard interesting views and forecasts. This article will analyze them from a single geopolitical perspective.

Experts point out the deepening geopolitical struggle in the Middle East. In particular, dangerous scenarios are set in relation to Turkey. Ankara is sieged from several directions, and plans are in place to draw Turkey into chaos. Even fake maps are being drawn. The main goal is to split Muslim states into small entities and take complete domination of the region. But some of these forces seem to begin to understand that their plans are wrong. We hear statements at several levels that intervention in the Middle East was completely wrong. But what is interesting is that no one steps back. The struggle continues with new methods, and an emphasis is placed on the political and diplomatic activity. Against this background, geopolitical moves are also made. There are plans to create a large terrorist corridor. This article will give an insight into some of the aspects of Turkey`s geopolitical struggle under these circumstances.