Next step will be legalization of NATO military bases on Azerbaijani territory – Alexey Leonkov

Speaking with Alpha News, military analyst Alexey Leonkov commented on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s announcement that the country’s army will adopt NATO standards.

“When a non-NATO country adopts NATO standards, it means it will be used in NATO’s interests, with no regard for its statehood, sovereignty, or national security. A typical example is Ukraine, which has restructured everything to comply with NATO standards and become a NATO weapon against Russia. As history now shows, countries that were once part of the Soviet Union, adopting NATO standards, are becoming the bloc’s weapon against Russia,” he said.

According to the expert, Azerbaijan’s actions undermine Russia’s geopolitical interests in the South Caucasus.

“I believe the next step will be the legalization of NATO military bases on Azerbaijani territory. This would be nothing less than a direct threat to Russia, and it will have to respond,” the political scientist emphasized.

Leonkov noted that if diplomatic efforts fail, Russia may resort to more forceful measures to respond to the emerging threat.

“I believe everything always starts at the diplomatic level and then progresses to a military-technical response. So far, as they say, we’re still trying to figure out where to stop—will diplomacy allow it? That’s one thing. But if it doesn’t, then, of course, sooner or later certain operations will begin that will force Russia to resort to a military-technical solution,” he said.

Alexey Leonkov questioned the Azerbaijani President’s independence in decision-making.

“Aliyev is not an independent politician, because if he constantly changes his views, domestic and foreign policy, it indicates that he is not in control, but rather that he is being controlled. A person who truly advocates for the interests of his own state will never enter into confrontation with a nuclear power,” the expert concluded.