By Katherine Brady, Intern at Geocase
Introduction
The South Caucasus stands at the crossroads of Europe and Asia as a region that combines geopolitical importance with historical disputes and changing diplomatic relations. Georgia and Azerbaijan maintain a strong bilateral relationship, which serves both political and economic necessities as well as increasing strategic value in the South Caucasus. The Georgia–Azerbaijan partnership functions as a key element supporting regional stability and connects different parts of the region through energy corridors, military alliances, and trade logistics. This paper investigates the historical evolution of their diplomatic relations and analyzes present political-economic ties while projecting future developments against the South Caucasus and Eurasian region’s changing dynamics.
Historical Foundations of Cooperation
The two nations established official diplomatic ties in 1992 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and they soon pursued the development of their bilateral alliance. The establishment of mutual support for national sovereignty and domestic boundaries in 1992 came primarily from their ongoing battles with separatism in Abkhazia, the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia), and Nagorno-Karabakh. A formal treaty of friendship and cooperation was signed in 1993 to establish fundamental political and economic objectives for both countries. The establishment of fundamental energy infrastructure projects strengthened the initial alliance between these two nations. The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline together with the Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline made Georgia an essential energy transit route for Azerbaijani hydrocarbons headed toward European markets. These initiatives reduced both countries’ dependence on Russian energy pipelines while accessing worldwide markets.
Security Dynamics and Political Calculations
Security cooperation stands as a fundamental basis for the Georgia–Azerbaijan bilateral relations. Both states maintain a common goal of sustaining regional peace while blocking outside interventions, mainly from Russia and Iran, despite the absence of a formal mutual defense treaty. During the 2008 Georgia-Russia conflict, Azerbaijan delivered critical emergency gas supplies and financial aid to support Georgia through its domestic crisis and bank failures. After Georgia lost control of its airspace, European leaders rerouted through Azerbaijan, highlighting Baku’s logistical and political support.
The two countries now work together more intensively to combat regional dangers including terrorism, separatism, and border security threats. Their partnership gains additional strength through trilateral initiatives which include Turkey as a NATO member, a potential EU candidate, and as Azerbaijan’s principal ally. Although Georgia works to enter NATO and the EU, Azerbaijan avoids taking sides between major alliances but shares common positions regarding state sovereignty and connectivity links.
The Middle Corridor and Geo-Economic Importance
The Middle Corridor represents the central aspect of present-day Georgia-Azerbaijan relations through its Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This east–west trade route connects China to Central Asia and continues through the Caspian Sea before reaching Azerbaijan and Georgia to deliver goods to Turkey and Europe. Through infrastructure developments such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway and the upcoming Anaklia deep-water port, the countries aim to establish themselves as major transit centers in global supply chain realignments following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Azerbaijan dedicates significant resources to the corridor because it represents a key part of its post-war reconstruction strategy following its 2020 victory in the Nagorno-Karabakh war. The Georgian government recognizes transit revenue as vital for maintaining economic stability and broader geopolitical relevance. The corridor provides both nations with an alternative to traditional north–south transit routes dominated by Russia and Iran, thereby enhancing their connectivity and market access to Western regions.
However, significant challenges persist. Efficiency suffers from three “soft” issues, including customs delays, inconsistent tariffs, and regulatory misalignment. The corridor is further constrained by “hard” challenges such as limited infrastructure capacity and unresolved regional conflicts. While both governments continue to invest in the corridor’s development, their broader strategic outlooks diverge. Azerbaijan remains focused on consolidating regional influence and connectivity, whereas the Georgian government—under the leadership of the Georgian Dream party—has adopted a more ambiguous geopolitical posture. Despite public rhetoric about Euro-Atlantic aspirations, recent political actions have signaled a distancing from Western institutions and values, raising concerns about Georgia’s long-term strategic orientation.
Political Frictions and Emerging Challenges
The close friendship between Georgia and Azerbaijan does not prevent occasional political disagreements from arising. The David Gareja monastery complex on the disputed border area between Georgia and Azerbaijan remains a point of contention between the two nations. Although both countries maintain diplomatic control over the situation, the potential for nationalist tensions remains a strain on their relationship. Currently, diplomatic mechanisms are actively managing the tension, and it has not escalated into major bilateral instability. The political situation in Georgia presents potential dangers for its population. Tbilisi is experiencing democratic backsliding and populist challenges that threaten its European integration goals while Azerbaijan maintains its highly centralized government structure. Despite political changes in both countries, their bilateral relationship has shown durability.
The rising military presence in the South Caucasus region forces countries to make new strategic choices. The support from Turkey enables Azerbaijan to hold a strong military position against Armenia. Georgia lacks formal defense guarantees from Western allies despite its close political ties with NATO and the EU. The Western alliances of Georgia have not produced concrete security agreements, leaving the country exposed to regional conflicts.
Toward a Regional Trio and Future Possibilities
Although regional blocs in Central Asia offer a conceptual precedent, political divisions—especially between Armenia and Azerbaijan—pose major challenges for such a model in the South Caucasus. Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia should collaborate as a non-political South Caucasus trio to address environmental concerns while developing sustainable transit systems and preparing for disasters. The relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains so strained that it makes cooperative work challenging to achieve. The conflict between these two nations also makes Georgia an ideal facilitator, yet its limited diplomatic influence reduces its effectiveness in this role. Georgia and Azerbaijan should establish a formal security agreement focused on counter-terrorism, energy infrastructure protection, and joint border surveillance. The three countries should enhance their participation in GUAM TRACECA and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization to create additional multilateral paths for deepened relationships. The Middle Corridor must remain safe and accessible to all nations while maintaining its operational integrity. The nations need to perform diplomatic maneuvers to accommodate the interests of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the EU.
Conclusion
A strategic alliance between Georgia and Azerbaijan exists because of their mutual benefits, regional requirements, and joint ambitions. The cooperation between the two nations has withstood multiple wars as well as regime transitions and global political transformations in the sectors of energy, logistics, security, and foreign affairs. The relationship has a solid base despite domestic political turmoil and unresolved border disputes.
The South Caucasus will become an essential transit and energy infrastructure hub worldwide, thus enhancing the Georgia-Azerbaijan partnership’s importance. Official agreements together with infrastructure development and multilateral collaboration between these nations can transform them into international connectors that promote peace, stability, and prosperity.