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Recently, the Baltic states’ interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan has noticeably increased. Geopolitical and geoeconomic turbulence, ongoing uncertainty regarding the future development of the international situation, and growing external challenges are forcing more and more states to reconsider their foreign policy priorities and focus on interactions with predictable and stable partners. This was clearly demonstrated by the official visit of Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs to Azerbaijan. It’s worth noting that the visit took place against the backdrop of the ongoing transformation of the global logistics and energy architecture, as well as the gradual adaptation of the Azerbaijan-EU interaction format to new geo-economic conditions. Therefore, the talks were multifaceted, covering topics related to political dialogue, transport, energy, and economic cooperation. Baku has always viewed Riga as a predictable partner in the EU and the Baltic region, while Latvia sees cooperation with Azerbaijan as a means to strengthen its presence in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region. Reaffirming their commitment to international law in the face of its erosion, the parties reaffirmed their shared positions on key issues on the international agenda. Separately, Latvia expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which also aligns with current EU priorities. Riga also emphasized its focus on the regional agenda, including the situation surrounding Iran, noting that it takes into account Azerbaijan’s assessments of the situation in the Middle East. A significant element was the statement of solidarity with Azerbaijan in response to the recent drone attacks on its territory, demonstrating a willingness to provide political support to Baku on security issues. The post-conflict situation in the South Caucasus was also discussed regionally. Azerbaijan reaffirmed its commitment to normalizing relations with Armenia based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Latvia supported these efforts within the framework of the EU’s overall position, expressing hope for the speedy conclusion of a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku. The key practical content of the talks focused on the transport and logistics agenda. This involves attempting to connect the Middle Corridor with the Baltic region’s infrastructure, which theoretically allows for the creation of a through route from Central Asia through the Caspian and South Caucasus to Northern Europe. For Azerbaijan, this means diversifying its access to European markets, while for Latvia, it offers the opportunity to gain a foothold in new logistics chains. However, the current stage of the discussions suggests that the discussion is still focused on identifying formats for cooperation. The energy issue was discussed in the pan-European context of supply diversification. Latvia confirmed its interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan as part of the EU energy architecture, although much remains to be done to implement practical steps in this direction.
The economic component of the visit was particularly significant. With limited trade turnover and low investment, the parties focused on identifying growth opportunities. The business forum held in Baku provided a platform for direct contacts and discussions of prospects in agriculture, green energy, digital solutions, and logistics. Meanwhile, areas such as artificial intelligence, the defense industry, and the participation of Latvian companies in reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan remain under discussion. In this context, the Latvian President’s initiative to potentially liberalize the visa regime between the EU and Azerbaijan was highlighted. This is seen as a factor capable of stimulating business and humanitarian contacts, although it must be acknowledged that its implementation depends on pan-European procedures. Perhaps, if the Latvian side more persistently promotes this issue at the pan-European level, the parties could come significantly closer to its implementation. Overall, the visit demonstrated the parties’ continued interest in developing cooperation. Azerbaijan continues to expand the geography of its foreign economic ties, including the Baltic region, while Latvia seeks to integrate into emerging Eurasian supply chains. At the same time, dependence on pan-European processes remains, forcing the parties to seek pragmatic formats for cooperation. In a changing external environment, both countries rely more on their own capabilities and strive to adapt to new geoeconomic realities, with the goal of securing advantageous positions.
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