Azerbaijan, Arab countries coordinating efforts on int’l platforms

Russia’s war in Ukraine has created new geopolitical realities in the world and the region, in connection with which the coordination of efforts on international platforms is in the interests of both Azerbaijan and the Arab countries, Arab political and military analyst Mohammed Saleh Alftayeh told Report.

“Since Russia invaded Ukraine, we have witnessed an increasing tendency of many countries to take a positively neutral position between Russia and the West. Azerbaijan and many Arabic countries share the view that they have political and economic allies in the west, but Russia is geographically closer and more involved in the affairs of the region bordered by the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian seas,” he said.

This common stance of Azerbaijan and several Arabic countries, will also be useful in the future as tension is escalating between China and the West, he noted.

“Azerbaijan is strategically located on the trading routes connecting China and south-east Asia with Europe. This location will remain significant while the West moves from its trade dependence on China to other countries in south-east Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

Most of these countries are also members of the OIC and have growing relations with GCC countries and Türkiye. Maintaining the positive neutral stance and coordinating endeavors on international platforms is obviously beneficial to Azerbaijan and Arabic countries in the long term,” he added.