To PaulVDV: foreign relations

[holmertz]

Thank you Paul,
Azerbaijan's main foreign ally, and almost the only one, is closely related Turkey. Generally the country is trying to navigate between the great powers and doesn't trust anyone. I don't think Azerbaijan feels very close to the southern Russian Muslim republics, but Russia's strong support for the arch-enemy Armenia makes it a source of suspicion. The Russian influence is mainly cultural because of the many Russians living in Azerbaijan since Soviet times. Politically the country has not changed much since those days. With a short break of a few years after independence in 1991 Azerbaijan has been ruled by the same family since the 1970's.
Gert