Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia at the United Nations

Abstract

The South Caucasus constitutes a strategically vital region where the articulation of Russia's national interests remains unstable, hindering the optimization of bilateral and multilateral collaboration. Despite its active participation in global governance, the Russian Federation lacks a fully coherent foreign policy strategy towards this region, which presents a nexus that must be explored to foster the dynamics of cooperation. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze the interaction between Azerbaijan and Russia within the United Nations system. Through historical analysis, formal legal interpretation, and comparative methodology, it traces the evolution, institutional frameworks, and diplomatic instruments that underpin their multilateral collaboration. It was demonstrated that Azerbaijan and Russia systematically rely on UN bodies—from the General Assembly and the Security Council to specialized agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNHCR—to promote complementary geopolitical, security, and socioeconomic objectives. These cooperative dynamics have significantly contributed to relative regional stability, facilitated humanitarian assistance, and shaped UN-led responses to new global challenges. It is further argued that a more structured and strategic deployment of UN mechanisms could promote lasting peace and sustainable development in the South Caucasus, while offering a model for reforming multilateral institutions to address evolving security and governance imperatives.