•  
  •  

Home > Open Access Journals > JSS > Vol. 19 > No. 1 (2026)

 

Author Biography

Hasan Alisoy is a Lecturer in English and Strategic Communication at Nakhchivan State University, Azerbaijan. He serves as the Program Coordinator of the “American English Network for Nakhchivan Youth,” a U.S. Embassy–funded initiative focused on English language education, intercultural dialogue, and youth engagement. His academic work explores regional security, post-Soviet realignment, and strategic communication. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Porta Universorum and Acta Globalis Humanitatis et Linguarum, and regularly contributes to scholarly publications in political discourse and international cooperation. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0247-476X

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.19.1.2541

Subject Area Keywords

Conflict studies, Defense policy, Middle East, Military affairs, Russia, Strategy

Abstract

This article analyzes how Russia’s declining power, accelerated by its military overextension in Ukraine, triggered a historic rupture in Russia–Azerbaijan relations, culminating in the 2025 Yekaterinburg incident. It argues that the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens in Russian custody—and the retaliatory actions taken by Baku—did not cause the diplomatic collapse, but rather crystallized a long-term realignment rooted in Azerbaijan’s post-conflict assertiveness and Russia’s unraveling regional leverage. Drawing on the 2024 downing of an Azerbaijani airliner by a Russian missile, the premature withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh, and Azerbaijan’s evolving alliance with Türkiye, the article positions this realignment within a broader pattern of post-Soviet states recalibrating their security doctrines. Azerbaijan’s shift away from dependency on Russian guarantees and toward partnerships with NATO-aligned actors reflects a new era of regional autonomy and deterrence posture that challenges old models of collective security. This case study reveals key implications for NATO and allied nations: namely, that the erosion of Russian hegemony is not limited to Ukraine but is actively reshaping regional alignments and security calculations across the South Caucasus. The article concludes with reflections on how NATO and Western actors should interpret and engage with these developments.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not reflect the official policy or position of Nakhchivan State University, the U.S. Embassy in Baku, or any affiliated institution.

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the support of the U.S. Embassy in Baku through the “American English Network for Nakhchivan Youth” project. Special thanks also to colleagues and students at Nakhchivan State University for their insights and encouragement during the development of this article.

Download

Share

COinS