Azerbaijan is funding the participation of small island developing states at COP29 to boost their representation, simultaneously engaging in a geopolitical rivalry with France amid ongoing tensions following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This initiative is perceived as a strategy to leverage climate change concerns while underlining Azerbaijan’s position against French influence in the region.
Azerbaijan is strategically introducing a geopolitical dimension to the upcoming COP29 climate conference by extending financial support to small island developing states, many of which maintain ties to France. The initiative, spearheaded by President Ilham Aliyev, aims to cover flight costs, lodging, and daily allowances for four delegates from each participating island state for the November event hosted in Baku. This funding proposal follows Aliyev’s previous intention to create a dedicated fund to help these vulnerable nations combat climate change effects. Azerbaijani officials depict this initiative as a noble effort to increase representation from nations most threatened by climate change. “We will not have an inclusive process [at COP29] if we do not take every measure to ensure participation from frontline communities,” stated Mukhtar Babayev, Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister and president-designate for COP29. He emphasized the importance of their perspectives in shaping the conference’s outcomes and asserted the nation’s moral obligation to support these states. However, analysts suggest that Aliyev’s approach may also serve as a provocation towards French President Emmanuel Macron, with whom he has been engaged in an ongoing rivalry intensified by the Armenian conflict’s aftermath. France’s steadfast backing of Armenia has irked Aliyev, who has labelled French actions as “neo-colonial” in character concerning the Pacific. The Azerbaijani government’s proposal to facilitate participation for island states at COP29 can be interpreted as a strategic maneuver to undermine French influence and draw attention to the plight of small island nations needing climate action. During a meeting convened by Tonga among representatives from 56 countries, including 33 island states, Azerbaijan’s participation underlines its commitment to enhancing climate action. Furthermore, Azerbaijan recently pledged $10 million towards initiatives aimed at improving climate resilience and disaster preparedness for these nations. This geopolitical tension was underscored at the recent UN General Assembly in New York, where Macron reiterated support for Armenia, advocating for stable peace negotiations in the region. In contrast, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry criticized France’s stance as counterproductive, with Babayev promoting environmental issues faced by small island states in his address.
The geopolitical tensions between Azerbaijan and France have significantly shaped their respective international postures, particularly regarding climate policy and the representation of marginalized nations in global forums. The ongoing dispute follows Azerbaijan’s military victory over Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. France’s strong support for Armenia has led to a sharp deterioration in Franco-Azerbaijani relations, prompting Azerbaijan to seek opportunities to counteract French influence and assert its own agenda on the world stage. The COP29 climate conference, scheduled to take place in Baku, affords Azerbaijan a unique opportunity to project its soft power while simultaneously critiquing France’s policies related to small island developing states, particularly in light of France’s historical connections with many of these nations.
Azerbaijan’s initiative to fund the participation of small island developing states at COP29 embodies a complex interplay of altruism and geopolitical maneuvering. While presenting itself as a champion for climate action, Azerbaijan’s motives seem rooted in a desire to challenge French power and influence at the conference. The discourse surrounding COP29 may thus serve not only to address pressing environmental issues but also to further exacerbate existing geopolitical rivalries.
Original Source: eurasianet.org
