Escalating Paris-Baku Diplomatic Rift over French Support for Armenia
Photo: AFP
The diplomatic tensions between Paris and Baku have escalated to a new height as two French embassy diplomats were declared personae non gratae in Azerbaijan on a Tuesday, a move which saw a reciprocal response from the Quai d’Orsay, France’s diplomatic headquarters, the following day. This diplomatic tit-for-tat is symptomatic of the deepening rift over France’s perceived support for Armenia, a contentious issue that has historical roots and contemporary geopolitical implications. The backdrop of this diplomatic fallout is the longstanding conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. This conflict saw a violent flare-up in late 2020, resulting in a ceasefire brokered by Russia. France, with its sizable Armenian diaspora, has historically been sympathetic to the Armenian cause, much to the chagrin of Azerbaijan. The recent expulsion of French diplomats is thus not an isolated incident but part of a broader narrative of distrust and contention. Two days before the expulsion, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev on his 61st birthday, extolling Aliev for his “considerable successes.” The communication also emphasized the desire to “continue and strengthen the close cooperation” between Russia and Azerbaijan. Putin’s letter and public support for Aliev during the traditional year-end meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which convened leaders from nine of the fifteen former Soviet republics, have been viewed as a diplomatic balancing act in a region fraught with rivalries and alliances.
While Moscow has positioned itself as a mediator in the conflict, France’s alignment with Armenia has put it at odds with both Azerbaijan and, to some extent, Russia. This dynamic was clearly on display in Saint Petersburg during the CIS meeting. The optics of Aliev sitting next to Putin suggested a united front against perceived Western interference, particularly from France, which is seen as taking a more partisan stance. The French support for Armenia is multifaceted, involving historical ties, domestic politics, and international law. France’s Armenian community is influential and has successfully lobbied for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, further straining relations with Turkey, an Azerbaijani ally. On the international stage, France is one of the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which is tasked with mediating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a role that Azerbaijan perceives as being compromised by French partiality. The immediate consequence of the diplomatic expulsions is a decreased capacity for dialogue and negotiation at a time when engagement is paramount. Such actions contribute to a hardening of positions and make the already challenging task of peace-building even more arduous. It is a manifestation of the broader geopolitical contest in the South Caucasus, where Western interests and Russian influence perennially clash. Furthermore, the symmetrical response by France to expel Azerbaijani diplomats reveals a readiness to stand by its principles and its allies, even at the cost of diplomatic relations. This escalation has the potential to spill over into other areas of cooperation, including trade, cultural exchanges, and security collaboration. The Paris-Baku tensions underscore the complexity of post-Soviet geopolitics, where historical grievances, ethnic nationalism, and great power politics intermingle. France’s support for Armenia is seen by Azerbaijan as a direct challenge to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
By Cora Sulleyman
