CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 27

TINA KHARATYAN
● Iranian factor: Iran’s aspirations to develop nuclear power, frequent
violations of naval and air borders by the Islamic Republic of Iran
and the separatist Shiite threat coming from the southern neighbor.
● Russian factor: Changing regional landscape after 2008 Georgian
crisis and increased Russian presence in the South Caucasus.
● Nagorno-Karabakh factor: the threat to the RA’s territorial integrity
and sovereignty- “occupation of territories of the Republic of Azer-
baijan by armed forces of the Republic of Armenia” (3.21). 26
Countering Iran
Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan were quite complicated since the
independence of Azerbaijan in 1991. First of all, the confrontation has cultur-
al and religious character. Iranian religious community not once condemned
Azerbaijani secular regime for spreading Western values across the region. 27
Therefore, Iran, by all means, supports radical Shiite movements in neigh-
boring Azerbaijan trying to change the secular character of the state regime.
Azerbaijan has always perceived Iran as a potential threat to its sovereign-
ty especially when Iranian gunboat attacked two Azerbaijani survey ships
in Caspian basin in 2001 and when Iranian jets several times violated the air
borders at the beginning of the 21 st century. Intensifi ed cooperation between
Azerbaijan and Israel constitute a signifi cant source of concern. On the one
side, the alignment of regional adversary Israel and Azerbaijan is not bene-
fi cial for Iran, on the other side, militarily strong Azerbaijan may become a
serious opponent dividing energy resources in the Caspian basin. 28
Russia: breaking the military balance in the region
The scope of possible threats was widened after 2008 August war in
Georgia, implications of which were taken into account drafting the MD. 29
Even though Russia’s “political expansionism” and radical movements in
the North Caucasus were taken into account, those do not play a central
role in the defense policy of Azerbaijan. In contrary, Russia’s active mili-
tary presence in the South Caucasus, strengthened military deals with the
Republic of Armenia and 25-year renewal of Russia-Armenia agreement
26
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28
29
The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, “The Military Doctrine of the Republic of
Azerbaijan.”
Iftah Celniker and Gallia Lindenstrauss, “Azerbaijan and Iran: Mutual hostility but limited
rivalry,” INSS Insight, (2012).
Ibid.
“Azerbaijan adopts new Military Doctrine,” Vestnik Kavkaza, June 17, 2010, http://vestnik-
kavkaza.net/articles/politics/2606.html (accessed June 8, 2018); “Azerbaijan Adopts Military
Doctrine at Long Last,” RadioLiberty (Radio Free Europe).
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