The Evolution of the Oil Industry Strategy in the History of Azerbaijan Foreign Policy

The purpose of the article is to study the evolution of the oil industry in Azerbaijan foreign policy. The historical method mainly employed in this research made it possible to identify the evolution of the oil industry and the energy factor in forming modern-day Azerbaijan foreign policy. The method of analysis contributed to the understanding of the strategic importance of the Caspian region, which is associated with the development of transport and energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the leading states of the world, starting from 1994 when "the Contract of the Century" was signed. The scientific novelty of the article lies in an attempt to determine for the first time the main stages in the formation of Azerbaijan oil strategy, to study the advantages of the energy and transportation element as a factor in its foreign policy grounding, as well as to identify the influence of this factor on the state's regional policy. Due to the scientific resource base, the evolution of Azerbaijan oil industry and the importance of the country’s oil potential were emphasized. Conclusions. In modern world, energy resources can be influential factors in international relations. Each state that owns oil and gas has advantages that can be used in foreign policy implementation. However, an important fact is the state head’s foresight, the ability to ground such a paradigm of calculations in which the country will develop and not "degrade". That is why the article highly appreciates the role of Heydar Aliyev, who broke the stereotype of a small state, and proved that the last one can maintain a balancing strategy between world leading actors. In conditions of modern confrontation between great states, Azerbaijan is guided by principles of political realism and neorealism, protecting its own national interests and supporting regional security