EU Influence on Azerbaijan-Georgia relations after the Second Karabakh War: economic, political, and security perspectives

Abstract

This research article inspired by Jan Zielonka (2006) book “Europe as Empire: The Nature of the Enlarged European Union” examines the dynamic relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia and contributions of the European Union to these relations. The period researched is after the Second Karabakh War (2020) with special focus on the European Union’s facilitation of relations between the two republics. Both countries have specific linguistic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds which are one of the major considerations in the article. By analyzing the speeches of state leaders after the Second Karabakh War (2020) from both nations made in bilaterial meetings in official state visits, categorized into economic, political, and cultural themes the research indicates that Azerbaijan prioritizes economic relations, while Georgia emphasizes political solidarity, particularly mutual assertions of territorial integrity. Furthermore, the article suggests that the EU’s contribution to Azerbaijan-Georgia relations encompasses political, economic, and security fields. The study concludes that the economic field is more actively integrated between Georgia and Azerbaijan, with the EU's impact being felt first in the economic sector, followed by political and security areas.