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Fatima Latifova

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Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO is of particular importance. The relations between the two parties manifest not only in military and political spheres but also in energy security and climate change. Cooperation with Azerbaijan, which has an excellent strategic position in the South Caucasus region, is especially crucial for NATO.

As a country rich in energy resources, Azerbaijan plays an indispensable role in NATO’s energy security. With vast oil and gas reserves located in the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan makes a significant contribution to meeting Europe’s energy needs. Projects such as the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) strengthen Azerbaijan's strategic position and help NATO member states diversify their energy supply. Through these pipelines, Azerbaijan directly supplies energy to European markets, which reduces the West's dependence on Russian energy and enhances regional security. Given the current tensions between European countries and Russia, this has led to Baku assuming a particularly important role in recent years.

It should be noted that NATO’s energy security policy, initiated in 2008, includes the diversification of energy sources for European countries as one of its key directions. Azerbaijan has long been a bridge for energy between East and West, playing a vital role in this process.

Today's event dedicated to studying energy security and climate change issues between Azerbaijan and NATO further reinforced these points. It was particularly emphasized at the meeting that Azerbaijan exported nearly $23 billion worth of gas last year.

When discussing renewable energy, Anar Mutallimov, Deputy Head of the Military-Political Affairs Department at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the ongoing development of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan's Garabagh and other regions, as well as efforts to establish "green energy" zones and corridors.

NATO-Azerbaijan climate co-op

It is important to mention that the climate crisis is not only a global threat but also a factor that poses a threat to national security. The existing cooperation between NATO and Azerbaijan in the area of climate change is particularly aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy sources. Azerbaijan has also taken many steps to implement new technologies that have a lower environmental impact. For instance, Baku's commitment to contributing to the global fight against climate change by joining the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016 was a bold and responsible step for an oil and gas country. The country is applying more efficient and environmentally friendly methods in energy production to reduce carbon emissions, which aligns with shared goals with NATO. It is worth recalling that Azerbaijan is one of the first countries in the Caspian region to join the Paris Climate Agreement, aiming to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2030.

Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg particularly noted Baku's efforts and contributions in the field of climate change during his visit to Azerbaijan in March of this year. Stoltenberg expressed eagerness for the COP29 event to be held in Azerbaijan, emphasizing that climate change is important for NATO from a security perspective.

"I will say that we very much look forward to Azerbaijan hosting the next COP meeting," he said.

He appreciated Azerbaijan's investments in alternative energy alongside natural gas and its goals to bring this production to the European market, in the context of balancing the needs for energy and the environment. The significant trust and respect shown by the former NATO Chief towards Azerbaijan is commendable. This relationship symbolizes the alignment of views and cooperation between the two sides on the issue of the climate crisis.

On the subject of Garabagh, it is worth noting that there is a deep-rooted military cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are enhancing their professionalism by participating in numerous exercises under NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program.

Azerbaijan has also demonstrated its contribution by supporting NATO’s peace and stability operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo. As a result of this cooperation, Azerbaijan has the opportunity to enhance its military capabilities and resources by benefiting from NATO's mutual defense and training experiences. Azerbaijan is also one of the first countries in the South Caucasus to cooperate with NATO, having joined the program in 1994. Since 1999, NATO has implemented a number of projects and training programs in Azerbaijan, enabling Azerbaijani soldiers to train according to NATO standards. This military cooperation has undoubtedly contributed to the counter-offensive operations carried out in 2020 and the liberation of Garabagh from Armenian occupation.

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Fatima Latifova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @fatimalatifova

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