In recent months, French authorities' outrage over Azerbaijan's interference in New Caledonia may have come as a surprise and even led to skepticism about the reality of a threat from a small Caucasian country with little influence on the international scene. Nevertheless, the repeated nature of its attacks against French interests, aimed at exacerbating regional or territorial separatism, has convinced many that the Baku regime's goals go beyond merely defending other peoples' right to self-determination.
It has become apparent that the strategy is part of a history of undermining democracies that was launched by the Soviet Union after World War II. Tensions between France and Azerbaijan have been high since Baku resumed hostilities with Armenia, for whom Paris has taken up the cause. True to the techniques of interference and disinformation of the (Soviet) KGB and today's Russian regime, the totalitarian regime in Baku, led by President Ilham Aliyev, is orchestrating its anti-French campaign with a great sense of organization.
For example, in July 2023, Baku supported the creation of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), which calls on supporters of the independence movements in France's overseas territories to join forces against France's "neo-colonialism." According to the BIG, the French West Indies are in the grip of "genocide by substitution," and French Guiana's resources are being "plundered." Accused of acting on orders from his government, despite his organization's NGO status, BIG director Abbas Abbasov retorted in February: "It's not the Initiative Group's fault that these colonies are French."
On May 16, with a stern look, French Minister of the Interior and Overseas Gérald Darmanin accused Baku of interference in New Caledonia, as Azerbaijani flags flew at gatherings of protesters. On March 2, outside a courthouse in Bastia, Corsica, two Azerbaijani journalists drew attention during a pro-independence demonstration. One worked for Azerbaijan's government news agency and the other for the Turkish TV channel Haber Global. In their reports, they depicted Corsica as on the brink of independence and denounced the arrest of two nationalist activists.
Between influence and interference
In early 2024, the Azerbaijani Parliament called for "the pure and simple recognition of Corsican independence," along with that of "Kanaky [New Caledonia] and Maohi Nui [French Polynesia]." According to France's General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), the actions of the BIG, a group that emerged from the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement, which was chaired by Azerbaijan from 2019 to 2024, and of which President Aliyev is the current secretary-general, straddle the line between influence and interference.
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