Azerbaijan’s border security operation launches amid rising tensions with Russia and foreign policy shifts
Azerbaijan has launched a large-scale security operation, Border Shield, along its northern frontier with Russia, aiming to combat transnational organized crime, terrorism and illicit arms and drug trafficking. Officials frame Border Shield as part of routine law enforcement efforts, but its timing raises geopolitical questions. The initiative follows a period of growing tensions between Baku and Moscow, with analysts suggesting that Azerbaijan is increasingly frustrated with Russia’s approach to regional issues, particularly its stance on Armenia, bne IntelliNews writes.
A recent bne IntelliNews analysis pointed to a cooling in Azerbaijan-Russia relations, with Baku viewing Moscow’s policies as insufficiently aligned with its own interests. In this context, the border operation could be interpreted as a signal of Azerbaijan’s willingness to assert greater control over its security environment.
While Azerbaijani authorities insist that Border Shield is a standard security operation, its scale and objectives indicate a broader agenda. The operation aims to identify and neutralize members of transnational organized crime groups and terrorist organizations, disrupt smuggling routes for weapons, explosives, and narcotics and prevent illicit financial flows that could support criminal and extremist activities. Given the geopolitical backdrop, some observers see it as part of Baku’s strategy to reinforce its sovereignty over border areas at a time when relations with Russia are increasingly uncertain.
Additionally, Azerbaijan’s State Security Service and interior ministry dismantled a radical extremist network allegedly linked to international terrorist organizations. During the operation, several militants were killed after engaging in armed resistance against security forces, while others were arrested. Law enforcement officers seized a significant cache of weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, explosives and remote-detonation devices, raising concerns about the extent of extremist activities in the region.
The fact that the operation was only publicly disclosed months later has fuelled speculation that Azerbaijani authorities are becoming more assertive in managing security threats independently, without seeking Russian support.
One of the key concerns underlying Azerbaijan’s security operations is the reported resurgence of the Forest Brothers, a jihadist group originally active in Russia’s Dagestan region as part of the Caucasus Emirate’s Sharia Jamaat. The group had a history of launching attacks against law enforcement in both Dagestan and Azerbaijan, promoting extremist ideology and facilitating transnational militant activities.
The launch of Border Shield coincides with broader shifts in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. While Baku has long cooperated with Moscow on security matters, recent diplomatic frictions suggest it is now reassessing its reliance on Russia.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia rose in January following diplomatic exchanges over critical media reports and an unresolved investigation into a deadly air crash involving an Azerbaijani AZAL passenger plane in December. The plane crash, which resulted in 38 fatalities, led to accusations from Azerbaijan that Russia was concealing crucial information about the incident.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is an admirer of Donald Trump, who also happens to be a personal friend of Aliyev’s ex-son-in-law Emin Agalarov. Deepening ties with Turkey and Israel, and strengthening security cooperation with the West, and particularly the United States, are also important.
