The interview of President Ilham Aliyev with Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, aired on August 26, was a carefully calibrated foreign policy message directed not only at an Arab audience but at the wider international community. It cast Azerbaijan as a country that has moved beyond a period of conflict and is stepping into a phase of strategic leadership in Eurasia. Several themes stood out: the pursuit of lasting peace with Armenia, the rise of Azerbaijan as a key hub in trans-Eurasian connectivity, and the country’s growing profile as both a mediator and a regional power center.
On the peace track with Armenia, Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan had taken the initiative in launching negotiations and driving the Washington agreements of August 8, which he described as the factual end of the conflict. Baku has consistently anchored normalization in the principle of mutual recognition of territorial integrity. By framing constitutional revision in Armenia as a prerequisite for a formal treaty, Azerbaijan signaled that sustainable peace can only emerge once the legal and political basis for territorial claims is removed. This approach both secures Azerbaijan’s diplomatic achievements and positions the country as a constructive shaper of the post-war order rather than a passive participant.
Transport connectivity was presented as another central pillar. Aliyev portrayed the Zangezur corridor as more than a logistical project, describing it as a way to correct a historical injustice stemming from Soviet-era decisions and reinforced by decades of Armenian blockade. For Azerbaijan, reconnecting with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is seen as a matter of national unity and territorial continuity. With infrastructure on its side nearly completed, Baku places responsibility for progress on Yerevan. In the broader picture, the corridor is framed as part of both the East–West and North–South mega-routes, elevating Azerbaijan into a pivotal transit hub that links European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets.
Relations with Iran were another prominent topic. Aliyev highlighted constructive engagement with Tehran at the highest level while distinguishing between official policy and the rhetoric of conservative figures who use the “Azerbaijani factor” for domestic leverage. This balance reflects Baku’s diplomatic maturity: refraining from interference in Iran’s internal affairs while at the same time using cultural and demographic ties as an instrument of soft power. The development of the Araz corridor through Iran illustrates this pragmatism—an alternative route that reduces dependence on Armenia, deepens bilateral trade, and reinforces Azerbaijan’s image as a flexible yet resolute regional player.
Toward Russia, Aliyev struck a sharper tone, voicing dissatisfaction with the downing of an Azerbaijani civilian aircraft and Moscow’s subsequent handling of the incident. By recalling Azerbaijan’s immediate apology and accountability for the accidental shooting of a Russian helicopter in 2020, he underlined the asymmetry in responses and made clear that Baku will not accept disrespect or ambiguity when it comes to sovereignty. At the same time, his remarks avoided escalation, combining firmness with a reiteration of Azerbaijan’s preference for constructive dialogue.
Another strand of the conversation showcased Azerbaijan’s growing role in the Middle East. Aliyev presented energy exports not simply as an economic resource but as a tool of diplomacy, enabling dialogue between regional actors and offering Azerbaijan as a mediator in sensitive disputes. This reflects a broader strategy of using the country’s resources and geography to enhance its international authority and project value as a bridge-builder.
The Gulf dimension was equally significant. Aliyev underlined the role of UAE and Saudi companies as leading investors in Azerbaijan’s renewable energy sector, linking his domestic green agenda to global energy transition priorities. With the ambition to generate up to six gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, Azerbaijan aims to reinforce its status as both a reliable hydrocarbon supplier and an emerging contributor to the clean energy future. Parallel projects in tourism, agriculture, and desalination further illustrate how Baku leverages Gulf investment to deepen cross-regional integration.
Finally, Aliyev placed Azerbaijan within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States, presenting it as a platform for long-term consolidation of the Turkic world into a coherent geopolitical actor. Strengthening ties with Türkiye and expanding partnerships with other Turkic members is part of Baku’s broader vision of a multipolar order, in which the Turkic space becomes an autonomous center of power.
Taken together, the interview was less about announcing new initiatives than about signaling a new stage in Azerbaijan’s international projection. The country sought to present itself as a stabilizer that has restored its territorial integrity, an integrator of transport and energy networks, a pragmatic yet confident regional power, and a connector between multiple geopolitical spaces. It was a message that Azerbaijan intends to be seen not only as a regional participant but as a shaping force in the future of the South Caucasus, the Middle East, and wider Eurasia.
