Azerbaijan's Land Claims Extend Beyond Armenia to Neighbors
Armenia isnโt the only target of Azerbaijani land claims
Azerbaijan has pursued territorial claims against multiple neighboring countries beyond Armenia, according to analysis in The Armenian Weekly. Baku has long asserted claims to regions in Georgia, including the Davit Gareji Monastery Complex, and to areas in Russia's Dagestan Republic. The longest-standing claims target Iran, where Azerbaijan supports separatist movements advocating for "Southern Azerbaijan." These irredentist movements trace back to Soviet-era attempts during World War II, when the USSR briefly established an Azerbaijan People's Government in Iranian territory before withdrawing support in 1946. Since Azerbaijani independence, Baku has developed what the article describes as a "strategic communications apparatus" to promote these territorial concepts, which later influenced the "Western Azerbaijan" framing used against Armenia.
