BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23. The ‘bridge’ being
built between Baku and Riga has the potential to become a strategic
line connecting wider regions, Azerbaijan’s political analyst told
Trend.
According to him, the visit of the President of Latvia, Edgars
Rinkėvičs, to Azerbaijan on April 22 was remembered as an important
political and economic event that marked the transition of
relations between the two countries to a new stage. The meetings
held between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Latvian
President, the signed documents, the statements made, and the
organized business forum showed that Baku and Riga intend to deepen
relations not only in the diplomatic framework, but also in the
field of practical cooperation.
“This visit was, in fact, a logical continuation of the
relations that have been formed over many years. The Declaration on
Strategic Partnership signed between Azerbaijan and Latvia in 2017
has already created a solid legal basis for these relations. Recent
meetings have once again demonstrated that this document is not
just a formal framework, but is filled with real projects and
concrete initiatives,” he said.
According to him, political relations between Azerbaijan and
Latvia have long been stable and built on mutual respect.
“Both countries cooperate on various international platforms and
understand each other’s positions on regional security issues. In
this context, the meeting of the heads of state discussed not only
bilateral relations but also broader geopolitical issues. Issues
such as events in Europe and the Middle East, regional security,
energy security, and transport corridors took a special place on
the agenda of the parties. Touching upon these issues, President
Ilham Aliyev stated: “We largely discussed the political
developments in our region, and we’ll continue our discussions with
Mr. President.” This shows that Azerbaijan is no longer an active
actor not only in the regional, but also in the broader
geopolitical arena. Latvia, as a member of the European Union,
plays an important bridge role in this dialogue,” the analyst
said.
Garayev noted that one of the most striking aspects of the visit
was the emergence of economic cooperation issues. Both sides openly
admitted that the current trade turnover does not correspond to the
potential and should be increased.
“The Latvian President, touching upon this issue, noted that the
current economic relations are “very moderate and should be
increased.” This is an open and realistic approach, and at the same
time indicates a serious political will for future cooperation.
Azerbaijan, with its successes in economic diversification in
recent years, has created a favorable basis for this cooperation.
Reducing dependence on the oil and gas sector, developing the
non-oil sector, and improving the investment climate make the
country more attractive to foreign investors. The below statement
by President Ilham Aliyev in his speech clearly reflects this
transformation: “Diversification of the economy is already a
reality.” This reality, in turn, opens up new cooperation
opportunities for European countries such as Latvia,” Garayev
explained.
The analyst emphasized that the energy sector remains one of the
main directions of Azerbaijani-Latvian cooperation.
“Azerbaijan has been playing an important role in Europe’s
energy security for many years. Currently, the country exports gas
to 16 countries, including 10 European Union members. However, it
is noteworthy that cooperation is not limited to traditional
energy. Azerbaijan is also implementing big plans in the field of
renewable energy. Solar and wind energy projects, green energy
export prospects are of strategic importance for Europe. Latvia can
be a useful partner in this area in terms of both technological
experience and institutional knowledge. Latvia’s experience in
forestry and environmental management is especially interesting for
restoration projects implemented in Karabakh and East Zangezur,”
Garayev said.
According to him, the geographical position of Azerbaijan has
turned the country into an important transit hub between East and
West, North and South.
“The Trans-Caspian transport corridor and other international
routes are already actively used. Latvia, on the other hand, plays
the role of a gateway to Northern and Central Europe. In this
regard, the logistics capabilities of the two countries complement
each other. This cooperation is not limited to cargo transportation
alone. Digitalization, logistics technologies, and artificial
intelligence applications also open up new directions in this area.
In modern times, transport is no longer just physical
infrastructure, but also a technological ecosystem,” he said.
The analyst pointed out that one of the areas that attracted
attention during the visit was the prospects for cooperation in the
defense industry.
“Both countries have developing potential in this area.
Azerbaijan already exports defense industry products to many
countries. Latvia is rapidly developing in the field of drones and
defense technologies. Cooperation in this area is important not
only in terms of military, but also in terms of technological
innovations. Artificial intelligence, security systems, and new
generation technologies can further deepen cooperation between the
two countries,” he said.
Garayev underscored that the agricultural sector is also one of
the main areas of cooperation.
“The majority of the Azerbaijani population lives in the
regions, and this area is of particular socio-economic importance.
Latvia has rich experience in this area, especially in forestry and
environmental management. It’s possible to apply this experience
within the framework of the reconstruction work carried out in
Karabakh. This cooperation can also cover the areas of education
and personnel training. Modern agriculture is now based on
technology, innovation, and the principles of sustainable
development. In this regard, the “Declaration of Intent on
Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture between the Ministry of
Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of
Latvia” was also signed within the framework of the visit, he
said.
According to him, the visit of the Latvian President to
Azerbaijan can be assessed not only as a continuation of the
relations between the two countries, but also as the beginning of a
new stage.
“There are wide opportunities in the political dialogue,
economic cooperation, energy, logistics, defense industry, and
humanitarian fields. The most important thing is that both sides
demonstrate political will to realize these opportunities. This is
a key condition for the success of any partnership. In the coming
years, this cooperation is expected to manifest itself more clearly
with concrete projects, increased trade turnover, and strengthened
relations. This bridge, built between Baku and Riga, has the
potential to become a strategic line connecting not only the two
countries, but also wider regions,” the analyst concluded.
