France remains in Azerbaijan’s crosshairs. The former Soviet republic announced on Tuesday the expulsion of two French diplomats for activities “incompatible with their status”, in a context of tensions between the two countries over Paris’ support for Armenia.
The French ambassador, Anne Boillon, was summoned to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be notified of “a firm protest against the actions of two employees of the French embassy incompatible with their diplomatic status”, indicated Azerbaijani diplomacy in a press release, without further details. The two diplomats must leave Azerbaijan within 48 hours, according to the same source.
France accused of “destabilizing” the Caucasus
In recent months, Azerbaijan has accused France of “destabilizing” the Caucasus by providing aid to Armenia, a rival of Baku of which it is a historical supporter. In November, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev accused Paris of encouraging “new wars” by arming Yerevan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan maintain conflicting relations, notably because of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist territory that Baku reconquered in September. The two neighbors had clashed during two wars for control of this enclave, one between 1988 and 1994 and the other in the fall of 2020. Baku and Yerevan recently announced their desire to normalize their relations and ensure that A peace agreement could be signed soon, but the talks are making little progress.
Unfailing French support for Armenia
France, host to a large Armenian diaspora, has been involved in mediation between these two former Soviet republics in recent months, and has also demonstrated its unwavering support for Armenia.
In this context, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refused to attend a European summit in Granada, Spain, in October and to participate in a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, claiming that he had biased positions in favor of Armenians. At the end of November, Azerbaijan also accused France, Germany and the United States of being involved in the “illegal financing” of an investigative media recently targeted by two arrests.