Energy Gambit: How Azerbaijan Became a Key Gas Partner of Europe Without Ruining Relations with Russia

Azerbaijan is conducting a masterful energy diplomacy, becoming an indispensable gas partner for Europe while skillfully maintaining the geopolitical balance in the region. Such a high assessment of the country’s strategy was given today in Baku by Julien Matogné, an oil markets economist from the leading analytical company Energy Intelligence Group.

Speaking at an international conference, the expert emphasized that Baku skillfully positions its growing gas supplies to the EU not as competition with Russia, but as a diversification of sources for European consumers. This approach allows Azerbaijan to fulfill its commitment to double gas exports to the European Union to 20 billion cubic meters by 2027 through the Southern Gas Corridor, while continuing to cooperate with Moscow in other energy projects.

The key element of this success, according to Matogné, was the role of Turkey. “Azerbaijan used Turkey as an ideal partner,” he noted. Thanks to its strong ties with both Baku and Moscow, Ankara acts as a crucial transit country and a “diplomatic buffer”, ensuring the stability of supplies.

The technical basis for this ambitious strategy is provided by the expansion of production at the Shahdeniz field. New wells being developed by bp guarantee stable supply both for Azerbaijan’s domestic needs and for fulfilling long-term European contracts.