Last updated: June 10, 2026
Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, with a population of approximately 3 million people. Located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, it has served as a major regional economic center for over a century due to its strategic position and vast oil and natural gas reserves. The city is home to Azerbaijan’s government institutions, including the presidential office and parliament, and hosts the country’s financial and banking sectors. Baku’s urban landscape reflects its oil wealth, with modern skyscrapers, cultural institutions, and infrastructure development alongside older Soviet-era architecture. The city is connected to European energy markets through major pipelines, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor, making it a critical node in global energy infrastructure. Baku also serves as a transportation hub, with an international airport and port facilities connecting Azerbaijan to regional and international trade networks.
Baku functions as the political and diplomatic hub of Azerbaijan’s regional strategy. As the capital, it hosts the machinery of Ilham Aliyev ’s government and serves as the venue for high-level regional negotiations, including Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process talks and state visits from regional and international powers. The city’s prominence in South Caucasus geopolitics has intensified since Azerbaijan’s military victory in the 44-Day War and its subsequent complete capture of Artsakh in a 24-hour offensive on September 19–20, 2023, which ethnically cleansed the territory of its more than 150,000 Armenian inhabitants. Baku’s role as the administrative center for Azerbaijan’s control over the now-dissolved enclave has made it the focal point for disputes over the territory’s future status, the rights of its former Armenian population, and the implementation of peace agreements.
Baku has emerged as a destination for high-profile diplomatic visits that signal shifting regional alignments. In February 2026, Vice President JD Vance visited both Yerevan and Baku as part of the Trump administration’s engagement with the South Caucasus, a visit framed around the TRIPP corridor project and U.S. strategic interests in the region. The Baku leg of Vance’s trip included a “Strategic Partnership Charter” announcement and reflected the depth of U.S.-Azerbaijan ties, a dynamic that differs markedly from the American approach to Armenia. Baku has also become a destination for European and other international leaders seeking to navigate Azerbaijan’s role in regional energy supplies and transit infrastructure, including TRIPP and broader pan-Turkic integration projects that connect Azerbaijan, Turkey , and Nakhijevan .
Baku’s significance as a capital reflects Azerbaijan’s strategic position as a supplier of natural gas to Europe following Russia ’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a role that creates structural tensions in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process . Europe’s energy dependence on Azerbaijani gas supplies limits the willingness of Brussels to apply sustained pressure on Baku over Azerbaijan’s conduct toward Armenia or the enforced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population. Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel have also deepened, particularly after the capture of Artsakh, positioning Baku as a diplomatic hub in a broader regional alignment that includes Turkey and excludes Iran. The Iran war , which erupted in early 2026, has further elevated Baku’s strategic value to the United States and Israel, with reports of potential northern front military coordination and constitutional changes in Nakhijevan that may reflect deeper shifts in Azerbaijan’s geopolitical orientation away from Tehran.
Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Baku.
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 26, 2021
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Episode 110 | Recorded: Sunday, December 27, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 19, 2021
Episode 108 | Recorded: December 20, 2021
Anar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations
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Anar Valiyev and Benyamin Poghosyan discuss stumbling blocks in post-war negotiations
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ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021
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Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - December 12, 2021
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Episode 106 | Recorded: Sunday, December 12, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 21, 2021
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Episode 103 | Recorded: Monday, November 22, 2021 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211121.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 21, 2021
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Guest: Pietro Shakarian
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Episode 103 | Recorded: Monday, November 22, 2021 Show notes: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211121.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 7, 2021
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Episode 101 | Recorded: Monday, November 16, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211114.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 7, 2021
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Episode 101 | Recorded: Monday, November 16, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211114.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 7, 2021
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Episode 99 | Recorded: Monday, November 8, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211107.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - November 7, 2021
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Episode 99 | Recorded: Monday, November 8, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211107.html
Armenia’s Borders in Maps - A Conversation with Rouben Galichian | Ep 95 - Oct 29, 2021
Episode 95 | Recorded: October 29, 2021
Armenia’s Borders in Maps - A Conversation with Rouben Galichian | Ep 95 - Oct 29, 2021
Episode 95 | Recorded: October 29, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 24, 2021
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Episode 94 | Recorded: October 25, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211024.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 3, 2021
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Episode 91 | Recorded: October 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211003.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - October 3, 2021
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Episode 91 | Recorded: October 3, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20211003.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 19, 2021
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Episode #89 | Recorded: September 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210919.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - September 19, 2021
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Episode #89 | Recorded: September 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210919.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021
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Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - August 1, 2021
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Episode 84 | Recorded: August 2, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210801.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021
Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 25, 2021
Episode 81 | Recorded: July 26, 2021
Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian
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Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html
Armenian Foreign policy Between War and Peace A Conversation with Dr. Pietro Shakarian and Yeghia Tashjian
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Episode 80 | Recorded: July 21, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/CoG-20210722.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021
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Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 18, 2021
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Episode 79 | Recorded: July 19, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210718.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
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Guests: Asbed Kotchikian
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - July 11, 2021
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Guests: Asbed Kotchikian
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210711.html
Episode 78 | Recorded: July 11, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 20, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 74 | Recorded: June 20, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210620.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - June 13, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 70 | Recorded: June 13, 2021 https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210613.html
Episode 83 | Recorded: June 14, 2021
Episode 83 | Recorded: June 14, 2021
Iran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read MoreIran: Foreign Relations and Upcoming Elections A Conversation with Robert Markarian
The South Caucasus comprises Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The three regional powers surrounding them are Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, and Iran in the south.
Iran has been largely quiet about events on its northern border with Armenia and Azerbaijan, due largely to its marginalization on the world stage because of the Western economic sanctions but also because Iran is home to millions of ethnic Azeris and any perceived support for Armenia could result in additional
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 16, 2021 Topics:
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Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021 Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210516.html
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
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Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - May 2, 2021
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Episode 60 | Recorded: May 2, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 25, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210425.html Episode 59 | Recorded: April 25, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - April 4, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210404.html Episode 56 | Recorded: April 4, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - March 21, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210321.html Episode 54 | Recorded: March 21, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 49 - February 14, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210214.html Episode 49 | Recorded: February 14, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 31, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210131.html Episode 47 | Recorded on January 31, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
ANN/Groong Week in Review - Jan 17, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210117.html Recorded: January 17, 2021
Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021
Weâll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.
Former Artsakh Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan - 01/18/2021
Weâll be discussing various legal and human-rights topics within the context of recent developments in Armenia.
Conversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreConversation with Aram Vardevanyan - 01/13/2021
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, and prior to the Artsakh war of 2020, issues around the Armenian constitution and constitutional court have been in the center of public attention. These issues have been partly fueled by one of the most prominent legal cases in recent Armenian history, the March 1 trial against Armenian president Robert Kocharyan and military leadership at the time. We’ll explore issues surrounding the March 1 case, as well as legal and specifically constitutional questions related
Read MoreANN/Groong Week in Review Episode 40 - Jan 10, 2021
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Website: https://groong.org/podcasts/WiR-20210110.html Recorded: January 10, 2021