AZƏRBAIJAN – NATO
Azerbaijan has always paid great attention to security issues while implementing its multi-vector foreign policy startup. Therefore, Azerbaijan attached special importance to relations with the largest military alliance of the modern world – NATO and considered this cooperation as an important factor for an effective and balanced foreign policy. The basis of the meaningful partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO was laid by the signing of the framework document of the “partnership for peace” (PfP) program of national leader Heydar Aliyev on May 4, 1994. In 1997, Azerbaijan joined the SNT planning and analysis process. The partnership of the Republic of Azerbaijan with NATO servers its purpose of integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. The main director of the Azerbaijan-NATO partnership are political dialogue, peace support operations, emerging security threats and practical cooperation on a wide range of issues, the main emphasis of which is on defense issues. The issue of cooperation of Azerbaijan with NATO on the basis of mutual interests in the elimination of instability, conflicts and threats is reflected in the National Security Concept and military doctrine of Azerbaijan. Thus, the military legislation of Azerbaijan has been further improved, taking advantage of NATO standards.
The goals and principles of Azerbaijan’s individual partnership with NATO are mainly reflected in Azerbaijan’s PfP presentation document (1996), planning and analysis process (1997) and Individual Partnership Operation Plan (2004). In these documents, the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed its intention to carry out reforms in the field of Defense and security, develop military forces in accordance with NATO standards, participate in NATO operations, ensure energy security, prepare for emergency situations, combat emerging security challenges, as well as cooperation in the field of Environment and public diplomacy. In 1999, Azerbaijan sent a military unit to support NATO peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. Through the participation in these operations, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan gained experience in conducting joint operations with NATO troops, became closely acquainted with NATO standards and increased the level of professionalism of our peacekeeping troops. The Individual Partnership Operation Plan (FDP), which Azerbaijan joined in 2004, allows to systematize bilateral partnership.
In 2001, Azerbaijan carried out the military exercise “Resolute cooperation- 2001” PfP. The following year, Azerbaijan sent a military unit to Afghanistan to support NATO forces. In 2003, Azerbaijan joined the Virtual Silk Road and the following year, at the Istanbul Summit, Allied leaders paid special attention to the Caucasus. Thus, the special representative and coordinator of NATO was appointed to the region. In the same year, President Ilham Aliyev presented Azerbaijan’s first Individual Partnership operation started cooperation with NATO for the first time within the framework of the Individual Partnership Operation Plan. Azerbaijan annually participate in more than 200 events within the framework of the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program prepared on the basis of the PfP presentation document. The Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program creates conditions for the exchange of experience, training, as well as participation on events serving expert discussion organized by NATO member and some partner countries. Another important mechanism is military reform, training and education, the implementation of standards, the Planning and analysis process (PAP), which aims to assist partners in identifying and evaluating the forces that can be sent to multinational operations and military exercises with the participation of NATO forces. The PAP helps the partner country to organize defense planning in accordance with NATO experience.
Based on the principles of the “partnership for Peace” program, Azerbaijan is conducting a political dialogue with NATO on a wide range of issues of common interest. Within the framework of the political dialogue conducted in various formats and levels, Partnership, regional security, issues related to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan until November 10, 2020, peacekeeping operations, contribution to international peace and security, emerging security threats and other topics of common interest are discussed.
Azerbaijan’s support for NATO operations is one of the important areas of cooperation. Currently, the Azerbaijani military is participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
Since January 2015, in the non-combat mission “Resolute Support” held by NATO in Afghanistan, a contingent of 120 military personnel, including 2 military doctors and 6 Staff Officers of our Armed Forces, 128 members have been participating in the mission in Afghanistan together with NATO forces. Azerbaijan also contributes to NATO headquarters and commands within the framework of the concept of the headquarters element of the partnership. At the same time, the representative of Azerbaijan serves as a volunteer national leader in Euro-Atlantic Center for Disaster Response Coordination.
Azerbaijan contributes to this by being the chairman of the Working Group on the protection of important energy infrastructure and the fight against terrorism in the format of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. Such contribution consists of an exchange of intelligence and analysis with NATO, strengthening national counter-terrorism training capabilities together with NATO allies, and improving border and infrastructure security.
On December 2021, 14, President Ilham Aliyev attended a meeting of the NATO North Atlantic Council in Brussels. Then, President Ilham Aliyev and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a joint press conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Currently, the security system provided by NATO are being implemented by developed countries of the world. From this point of view, effective cooperation with the Alliance is beneficial for Azerbaijan from the point of view of ensuring security in the cross-border, maritime and cyber spheres. On the other hand, NATO is very important in partnership with Azerbaijan, a leading country in the South Caucasus, which has an important strategic geographical position. The favorable geographical position, military and economic opportunities of Azerbaijan are highly appreciated by NATO.