Relations between Azerbaijan and France have experienced a steady deterioration since the end of the Second Karabakh War in 2020.

Recent political discourse in Azerbaijan has increasingly framed relations with France not simply as a diplomatic disagreement, but as part of a broader pattern of hybrid confrontation.

According to Azerbaijan's Parliamentary Commission on Countering Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats, France continues to pursue policies and activities that constitute a comprehensive hybrid pressure campaign against Azerbaijan. The commission reports that these actions are designed to influence Azerbaijan's foreign policy choices, undermine its international standing, and shape regional dynamics in the South Caucasus.

Hybrid threats refer to the coordinated use of political, legal, informational, economic, diplomatic, and intelligence tools to achieve strategic objectives without direct military confrontation. Such methods have become increasingly common in international relations, particularly in regions where major powers compete for influence.

It is important to note that these developments are taking place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire and an ongoing, still-unresolved peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Azerbaijan's assessment suggests that France's activities fit within this framework, combining diplomatic initiatives, parliamentary resolutions, media narratives, lobbying efforts, and support for various political actors to advance its interests in the region.

One of the most frequently cited concerns involves the use of parliamentary mechanisms. Since November 2020, both chambers of the French Parliament have adopted several resolutions critical of Azerbaijan and supportive of Armenian positions regarding the South Caucasus conflict.

A key concept frequently referenced in this context is "lawfare," understood as the use of legal and parliamentary tools to exert political pressure. Since November 2020, both chambers of the French Parliament (the Senate and the National Assembly) have been adopting resolutions directed against Azerbaijan and contrary to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Although these documents, used as a means of diplomatic and political pressure, have limited legal force, they are adopted with the aim of forming similar approaches........

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