Politico: Efforts to boost NATO cooperation with Armenia and Azerbaijan are failing due to the conflict between France and Turkey

ArmInfo.  Attempts to intensify NATO cooperation with Armenia and Azerbaijan are failing due to the conflict between France and Turkey, while Russia is weakening its grip on the region, Politico reports.

A source writes that France refused to approve a new partnership framework with Baku, citing the detention of a French citizen as the primary reason, according to three NATO diplomats who wished to remain anonymous. In response, Turkey blocked a parallel extension of Armenia's plan out of solidarity with its close ally, Azerbaijan, they said.

It is noted that the two Caucasus countries are seeking deeper cooperation with NATO in exercises, military training, and other areas, according to five NATO diplomats. "As a result, both plans have been stuck in limbo for more than a year," they added.

The publication further notes that the months-long NATO standoff took on new urgency after France blocked the extension of EU sanctions against Russia and its allies last week. "Paris only dropped its objections after Brussels lifted restrictions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov, prompting Azerbaijan to release several prisoners, including a French citizen. France is now facing pressure to lift its veto on closer NATO ties with Baku following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's prisoner release last Wednesday," Politico continues.

"If they don't lift the veto, it would be an unwise political move, and they won't show themselves to be an ally acting in the alliance's interests." "This is very dangerous for Armenia – we think it's good that they are close," said one NATO diplomat.

A second NATO diplomat said: "There is frustration – stop using NATO to resolve bilateral issues."

NATO's Partnership Programs – so-called Tailored Partnership Programs – are the alliance's primary instrument for political dialogue and military cooperation with non-NATO countries. They are renewed every four years, and their level of ambition depends on the recipient countries' desire to integrate into the alliance.

"The delay has forced NATO to temporarily extend Armenia and Azerbaijan's outdated partnership agreements, even though negotiations on new plans are nearing completion," three diplomats said. The new plans will allow them to participate in joint military exercises, intensify military-to-military training, and deepen cultural cooperation, including organizing local English lessons, they added.

Some fear the delay could also hinder Armenia's push for rapprochement with the West, given the risks Yerevan has taken in shifting its foreign policy away from Russia.

"This is a concern: we create expectations for some countries and then fail to meet them – this could cause resentment," a third NATO diplomat said, adding that Baku and Yerevan's rapprochement with the alliance could help strengthen the fragile peace between the two countries.

Now that "peace has been established between the two countries, this is a good opportunity for NATO to push them to be more supportive of us," the diplomat added.

The French delegation to NATO declined to comment. The Armenian and Azerbaijani missions to NATO did not respond to requests for comment.

A NATO spokesman, speaking on behalf of the organization, said the alliance "has strong relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on political dialogue and practical cooperation in a number of areas," such as defense planning, education, and countering hybrid threats. "We stand ready to develop this partnership," he added.