Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Continue to Tighten the Noose of Decoupling russia from Oil

While russia seeks those to blame for the new fuel crisis, the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia are independently addressing their energy security needs, relying less and less on the rf. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, in particular, have agreed to jointly produce petroleum products for the Uzbek market.

According to Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy Sherzod Khodjaev, this involves the production of aviation and automotive fuel, as well as joint hydrocarbon extraction on the Ustyurt Plateau. In parallel, the countries are developing green energy transit to Europe.

For moscow, this means losing ground in markets it has considered its sphere of influence for decades. Former allies are increasingly building their own energy ties without tying them to the kremlin. russia’s foreign policy, based on pressure, blackmail, and constant talk of “historical closeness”, ultimately pushes neighbors to seek alternatives.

At the same time, Baku is not cutting off ties with moscow. Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the rf Rahman Mustafayev has stated that the country is ready to maintain relations, but this is “hampered by the negative narrative about his country in the russian media”.

In fact, Baku and other former partners of the rf are sending moscow a clear message: the kremlin will have to abandon its role as the “big brother” and learn to build equal partnerships – otherwise, its neighbors will continue to drift away from it, along with its markets and influence.