Battleground 369. Trump’s "Truce" and Russia's waning influence in Azerbaijan
Feb 6, 2026
Julius Strauss, journalist reporting from conflict zones, shares observations from a recent trip to Azerbaijan. He discusses Russia losing sway in the South Caucasus. Short scenes cover Azerbaijan’s economic and military pivot, shifting alliances toward Turkey and Israel, and the strategic rise of a China-Europe middle corridor.
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Prioritise Air-Defence Aid Now
- Allies should prioritise air-defence deliveries, notably Patriot missiles, to reduce missile intercept gaps.
- Donors must also dig into national stockpiles to meet Ukraine's urgent air-defence needs.
Azerbaijan Turning Away From Moscow
- Julius Strauss observed Russia's influence in Azerbaijan has sharply declined after diplomatic and security incidents.
- Azerbaijan responded forcefully to perceived Russian slights, signaling a decisive shift away from Moscow.
Azeri Public Pushback After Airliner Incident
- After a Russian shootdown of an Azerbaijani airliner, Azerbaijan publicly exposed mistreatment of Russian-linked figures and arrested Sputnik journalists.
- The government paraded injured journalists on TV to signal it would no longer tolerate Moscow's heavy-handedness.