Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 10
By Anakhanim Hidayatova - Trend:
The changing geopolitical situation in South Caucasus can be the cause of the emergence of tensions in the relations between Azerbaijan and the US, the Swedish scholar, the director and co-founder of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), the research director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, Svante Cornell, told Trend Feb. 10.
Recently, the political circles and the media in the US have been criticizing Azerbaijan, which makes one believe it is being done on purpose.
Cornell said the tensions in the relations between Azerbaijan and the US is an inadequate response of the US on the situation in the region.
He went on to add that another reason for the emergence of tensions in the relations between the US and Azerbaijan can be caused by the lack of an American strategy for Azerbaijan.
Cornell, commenting on the situation in the region, said the threats to the sovereignty and independence of the countries in Southern Caucasus have increased very much in the past ten years.
He noted that after the war in Georgia, many saw how it is difficult to prevent the Russian efforts to undermine the sovereignty of countries.
"So, in other words, the countries of Southern Caucasus have become more vulnerable. If you look at Azerbaijan's neighbors - Georgia was invaded by Russia, and Armenia was forced by Russia to abandon any forms of European integration and join the Eurasian union," he added.
Cornell noted that today there is much higher threat from Russia to the independence of the countries in the region.