Azerbaijan Walks Tightrope Between West, Russia

Azerbaijan a gas rich country that borders Russia and Iran finds itself in a tough spot after Russia's quick defeat of neighboring Georgia in August. The country has solidified its ties to the West over the past decade and is home to the Baku Tbilisi Ceyhan pipeline that provides gas to Europe without transiting through Russia. The West wants to build another pipeline that doesn't pass its nothern neigbor. Russia opposes that idea and wants Azerbaijan to sell them oil, which could end the hopes of another pipeline not passing through Russia. The effects of the Georgia-Russian war have negative consequences and could be lasting-NYTimes