France and Turkey Block NATO Partnership Programs with Azerbaijan and Armenia — POLITICO

ARLINGTON, VA — France has blocked a new NATO partnership program with Azerbaijan, while Turkey has responded by blocking a partnership program with Armenia, according to POLITICO.

Three NATO diplomats who spoke with the publication said France’s objection was linked to the imprisonment of a French citizen in Azerbaijan. Turkey subsequently blocked the partnership program with Armenia in solidarity with its close ally Azerbaijan.

Neither program has been approved for more than a year. The proposed agreements are intended to expand cooperation in areas including military exercises, training and other fields. In the meantime, NATO has temporarily extended its existing partnership programs with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“There is frustration: Stop using NATO for bilateral issues,” one NATO diplomat told POLITICO.

France is now reportedly facing pressure to lift its objection after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev released several prisoners last week, including a French citizen.

A Turkish official, however, rejected the characterization of the stalemate as a dispute with either France or Armenia, saying Ankara has long been prepared to approve both partnership documents simultaneously.

“This is definitely not a Turkey-France or Turkey-Armenia dispute,” the official said.

Diplomats warned that the prolonged delay could hinder Armenia’s efforts to strengthen ties with the West as Yerevan distances itself from Russia.

“This is concerning. We create expectations among certain countries and then fail to meet them, which can generate frustration,” another NATO diplomat told POLITICO.

France’s delegation to NATO declined to comment. The Armenian and Azerbaijani missions did not respond to POLITICO’s requests for comment.

A NATO official, meanwhile, said the alliance remains prepared to move forward with both programs.

“We are ready to advance these two partnerships,” the official said.