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EU Names Azerbaijan a Cornerstone of Europe’s Post-Russia Energy Map


EU Names Azerbaijan a Cornerstone of Europe’s Post-Russia Energy Map

By Alex Kimani – Feb 22, 2026, 4:00 PM CST

  • The EU has identified Azerbaijan as a cornerstone of Europe’s post-Russia energy strategy, aiming to double gas imports to 20 bcm annually by 2027 via the Southern Gas Corridor.
  • Azerbaijan is expanding both gas supply and renewable energy links.
  • Beyond energy production, Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a key transit hub, strengthening pipeline, power, rail, and freight corridors that connect Central Asia and the Caspian region to European markets.
Azerbaijan gas

Last July, Ukraine started importing natural gas from Azerbaijan for the first time in history, just months after it officially stopped the transit of Russian natural gas through its pipeline network in January 2025. Ukraine’s Naftogaz signed a supply agreement with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR Energy Ukraine that saw the former Soviet nation export its natural gas through the Trans-Balkan Corridor, with Ukraine looking to diversify its energy supply, enhance energy security, and offset significant domestic production losses caused by a constant barrage of Russian hits on its infrastructure.

The Trans-Balkan route is highly strategic for Ukraine because it not only provides it access to Azerbaijani gas through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) but also LNG from terminals in Turkey and Greece, as well as access to the Black Sea shelves of Romania and Bulgaria.

However, Ukraine is hardly the only country that has deepened energy ties with Azerbaijan in recent years. The European Commission’s recent meta-study on the continent’s energy connectivity highlights Azerbaijan as a critical and strategic partner for the EU, particularly through the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).

In 2022, the European Commission signed a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy with Azerbaijan, aiming to double gas exports to the EU to 20 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually by 2027. Azerbaijan provides a vital “Southern Corridor” for gas, helping Europe reduce its dependence on single-source suppliers like Russia. SGC is a 3,500km megaproject that connects Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz field to Europe via the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Related: US Oil Drilling Activity Still Going Nowhere

In January this year, Azerbaijan officially commenced gas deliveries to Austria and Germany, bringing the total number of countries using its pipeline gas to 16. Azerbaijan is already a primary gas supplier for Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. Azerbaijan exported approximately 12.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas to Europe in 2024,  good for a nearly 60% jump in just three years. This volume, delivered largely via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), represents more than half of Azerbaijan’s total 25.2 bcm exports for the year.

Azerbaijan is also actively leveraging its vast renewable energy potential–estimated at over 200 GW–to transition from a hydrocarbon-dependent economy to a green energy producer, with Abu Dhabi’s Masdar and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power playing key roles in this transformation. Azerbaijan is transforming into a key Eurasian hub for the transmission of renewable energy with a focus on connecting Central Asia and the Caspian region with Europe. The Caspian/Black Sea/Europe Green Energy Corridor is a primary renewable energy project connecting Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary. A 1,155-kilometer, 1,300 MW undersea cable is planned to transmit wind and solar power from the Caucasus to Southeastern Europe. The EU has granted this project “Project of Mutual Interest” status, with completion aimed for 2032. The Trans-Caspian Energy Corridor is an initiative that connects the renewable energy resources of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, via a Trans-Caspian cable, to the Azerbaijan grid, feeding into the Black Sea route to Europe. 

Last year, the Green Corridor Union LLC Joint Venture was registered in Baku to manage this project. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijan/Turkey/Europe Corridor is a critical southern, land-based power transmission route being developed to link mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan exclave and Turkey, strengthening connection to European markets. This includes the construction of 330 kV transmission lines along the Aras River as part of the Zangezur Corridor project. Further, Azerbaijan is currently working with Turkey and Bulgaria to further integrate with Eastern European grids.

Finally, beyond its own resources, Azerbaijan’s geography makes it a pivotal transit node.

Azerbaijan serves as the central hub for the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route), linking Chinese and Central Asian markets to Europe via the Caspian Sea, Georgia and Turkey.

The Middle Corridor is a faster alternative to northern routes, with freight volumes increasing rapidly. Azerbaijan’s Port of Baku is central to connecting Aktau (Kazakhstan) and Turkmenistan to the Caucasus. Cargo shipments are rising rapidly, with plans to triple freight flows by 2030. The Zangezur Corridor project aims to further boost connectivity, potentially increasing annual throughput by 15 million tons.

Meanwhile, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway is entering a new expansion phase following significant modernization efforts. Last month, Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) and Georgian Railways JSC signed key agreements in Tbilisi to ensure the full operational launch of their joint venture, BTKI Railways LLC. A critical 184-kilometre section in Georgia has been successfully upgraded, increasing the line’s annual freight capacity from 1 million tons to 5 million tons.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Alex Kimani

Alex Kimani

Alex Kimani is a veteran finance writer, investor, engineer and researcher for Safehaven.com. 

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The post EU Names Azerbaijan a Cornerstone of Europe’s Post-Russia Energy Map appeared first on azeritimes.com.

The post EU Names Azerbaijan a Cornerstone of Europe’s Post-Russia Energy Map first appeared on The South Caucasus News – SouthCaucasusNews.com.


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Nick Reiner pleads not guilty in the killing of parents Rob and Michele


Nick Reiner, 32, appeared in a Los Angeles court charged in the deaths of his parents, who were found with multiple stab wounds in their home in the city’s affluent Brentwood area in December, News.az reports, citing BBC.

***

He wore a brown jail jumpsuit during the arraignment. He could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors allege that Reiner fatally stabbed his father and mother, Michele, inside a bedroom of their home before fleeing. Reiner, who is being held in custody, will next appear in court on 29 April.

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found dead in their home by their daughter on 14 December.

The couple died from “multiple sharp force injuries”, according to the LA County medical examiner.

Nick Reiner was arrested in Los Angeles the same day. US outlets reported that he and his father had attended a party the previous evening, and engaged in an argument of some kind. Reports vary as to the severity of the alleged row.

He faces two counts of first-degree murder, with a special circumstance alleging multiple murders.

Rob Reiner directed films including This Is Spinal Tap, the Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and Stand By Me.

Michele Singer Reiner was an actress, photographer and producer, and the founder of Reiner Light, a photography agency and production company.

The couple’s children, Jake and Romy, said in a statement after their deaths that they were experiencing “unimaginable pain” following the “horrific and devastating loss”.

Nick Reiner’s arraignment, which was originally set for January, had been postponed after lawyer Alan Jackson withdrew from the case for reasons he said were beyond his and his clients control.

His new lawyer, Kimberly Greene, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf on Monday.

Reiner is receiving publicly funded legal representation that is allotted to defendants who cannot pay their own fees.

The post Nick Reiner pleads not guilty in the killing of parents Rob and Michele appeared first on azeritimes.com.

The post Nick Reiner pleads not guilty in the killing of parents Rob and Michele first appeared on The South Caucasus News – SouthCaucasusNews.com.


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Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN


The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on October Surprise 2016 – octobersurprise2016.org.

The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on The World Web Times – worldwebtimes.com.

The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on The World Web Times – worldwebtimes.com.

The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on The World Web Times – worldwebtimes.com.


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RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep


The post RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep first appeared on JOSSICA – jossica.com.


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News Review from The World Web Times

RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep


The post RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep first appeared on JOSSICA – jossica.com.


Categories
News Review from The World Web Times

RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep


The post RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep first appeared on JOSSICA – jossica.com.


Categories
News Review from The World Web Times

RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep


The post RT by @UKikaski: RT by @UKikaski: ‼️🇪🇺 𝗘𝗨 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 On the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Brussels was supposed to project resolve. Not rhetoric. Not another quiet concession that hands the Kremlin a win. Real, Churchill-esque resolve, where image be damned. Europeans rightly apply that standard to the White House. There should be no argument against applying it at home. Two major decisions were on the table: 1. The 20th EU sanctions package targeting Russia’s shadow fleet, energy revenues, and war machine. 2. Confirmation of the €90 billion loan to keep first appeared on JOSSICA – jossica.com.


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⚡️Moscow police vehicle targeted in blast at major railway station, 1 officer killed. An explosion at Moscow’s Savyolovsky railway station square killed one traffic police officer and wounded another on Feb. 23, according to Russia’s Interior Ministry. https://kyivindependenm/moscow-police-vehicle-targeted-in-fatal-blast-at-major-railway-station-1-officer-killed/


The post ⚡️Moscow police vehicle targeted in blast at major railway station, 1 officer killed. An explosion at Moscow’s Savyolovsky railway station square killed one traffic police officer and wounded another on Feb. 23, according to Russia’s Interior Ministry. https://kyivindependenm/moscow-police-vehicle-targeted-in-fatal-blast-at-major-railway-station-1-officer-killed/ first appeared on October Surprise 2016 – octobersurprise2016.org.


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The FBI reached out almost immediately to Mexican authorities following Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, a source tells NewsNation’s @LibbeyDean_. MORE: https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/viewer-questions-nancy-guthrie-mystery-answered/


The post The FBI reached out almost immediately to Mexican authorities following Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, a source tells NewsNation’s @LibbeyDean_. MORE: https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/viewer-questions-nancy-guthrie-mystery-answered/ first appeared on October Surprise 2016 – octobersurprise2016.org.


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Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN


The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on October Surprise 2016 – octobersurprise2016.org.

The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on The World Web Times – worldwebtimes.com.

The post Mexico’s defense minister Ricardo Trevilla was moved to tears as he mourned 25 National Guard military police members killed in retaliatory violence following the operation that led to the capture and death of cartel boss Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera https://reut.rs/40pRChN first appeared on The World Web Times – worldwebtimes.com.