European Union - Azerbaijan cooperation in the field of regional security in the Caucasus

The objectives of this research are to analyze the main trends and prospects of security cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan in the realms of conflict, governance, and energy. The present study supplements qualitative interviews with officials and specialists of the Azerbaijani government and a literature review to analyze the EU’s efficacy of its interventions in the particular case of the NK conflict. The EU has been quite diplomacy-oriented and focused on soft power thus ensuring that conflicting parties remain engaged in dialogue. However, its efforts have been limited by a lack of assertiveness, the participation of regional players such as Russia, and the internal divide within the EU. The role of energy security in the EU-Azerbaijan relationship also forms part of the study, in which the main focus is on how business, trade, and projects such as the Southern Gas Corridor provided economic cooperation but also geopolitical concern. Moreover, happiness continues to stress the EU’s initiatives for the institutional changes aimed at sustainable development However, positive changes remain an issue for Azerbaijan due to the political context of the country. Thus, the present study demonstrates that, though the EU has positively engaged in regional stability, its actions are challenged by a complex, multifaceted nature and internal obstacles, calling for a more effective and proactive strategy in future cooperation.