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Nathan Hughes: The military co-operation between Azerbaijan and the US is very highly appreciated by the US.

04 June 2010 04:47 (UTC +04:00)

Washington, Isabel Levine â€“ APA. â€œAzerbaijan, as an important part of the Northern Distribution Route, is especially useful for some of the equipment being moved from Iraq to Afghanistanâ€, told APAâ€™s Washington DC correspondent Nathan Hughes, military analyst of STRATFOR, commenting on the eve of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visit to Azerbaijan.

He said that the military co-operation between Azerbaijan and the US is very highly appreciated by the US.

Speaking of Azerbaijanâ€™s role as a base for moving equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Hudges said that â€œGiven the focus on Afghanistan and the logistical intensity of the Afghan mission, we have little trouble believing that this meeting is about ensuring the ongoing accessibility of that lineâ€.

Answering a question if the Qabala Radar station and the role of Azerbaijan in the anti-missile system will be discussed during the high-level meeting with Azerbaijani officials, the STRATFOR analyst explained:

â€œAs far as Qarbala, the radar in Azerbaijan is not particularly useful for plotting a ballistic missile defense intercept. It is not the right band nor does it have sufficient resolution. It may have some utility in an early warning role, but ultimately, the decision would be more political than technical. Azerbaijan’s territory would be quite useful for American BMD radars as well, though interceptors would probably be based a bit further along the flight pathâ€.