Amid declining Russian influence in the South Caucasus, efforts by Azerbaijan and Armenia to expand relations with NATO have encountered diplomatic obstacles. Politico, citing NATO diplomats, reported that France blocked approval of a new partnership plan with Azerbaijan. In response, Turkey also prevented approval of a similar document with Armenia, according to Ermenihaber. Paris justified its veto by citing the detention of a French citizen in Azerbaijan. Showing solidarity with Baku, Ankara in turn blocked adoption of the document with Armenia, insisting that the partnership programs with both countries, known as Individually Tailored Partnership Programmes (ITPP), be approved only simultaneously. A senior Turkish official, speaking to Politico, rejected claims that the situation amounted to a Turkey-France or Turkey-Armenia dispute. The official stressed that Ankara had long been prepared to approve both documents simultaneously and had opposed separating them. In recent days, however, the situation has changed. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev released several detainees, including the French citizen. That development has increased pressure on Paris to lift its veto.