The recent visit of Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), to Baku on October 18 marked more than a diplomatic formality. It signaled Azerbaijan’s growing role in the evolving architecture of regional and global security. The meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Admiral Cooper reflected the increasing recognition of Azerbaijan as a reliable partner capable of mediating between the West and the Islamic world — a role extending beyond the South Caucasus into the wider Middle East.
According to reports from regional and international outlets, the visit was likely linked to consultations around future stabilization efforts in Gaza. The U.S. Central Command is reportedly preparing to establish a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) — a hub designed to synchronize humanitarian, technical, and defense-related measures for post-conflict stabilization. While Washington emphasizes that no U.S. ground deployment in Gaza is envisaged, the Pentagon seeks to shape a coalition of capable and trusted partners with established regional credibility. Among the potential participants mentioned are Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan — and notably, Azerbaijan.
Baku’s inclusion is not accidental. Azerbaijan is uniquely positioned at the intersection of several geopolitical and cultural constellations. It is simultaneously a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a key actor within the Turkic world, a strategic ally of Türkiye, and a country maintaining stable and pragmatic relations with Israel. This rare diplomatic geometry enables Azerbaijan to communicate effectively with actors that often stand on opposing sides of regional fault lines.
Over the past decade, Baku has consistently demonstrated the qualities of a responsible and predictable international actor. The successful completion of its own post-conflict agenda in the South Caucasus, coupled with the steady advancement of peace negotiations with Armenia, strengthened Azerbaijan’s credentials as a state capable of reconciling military efficacy with diplomatic restraint. These factors explain why Admiral Cooper, during his visit, publicly commended President Aliyev for his contribution to regional stability and normalization processes.
In strategic terms, Azerbaijan’s possible engagement in multinational stabilization efforts would elevate its foreign policy profile to a new tier of responsibility. The concept of “smart partnerships”, increasingly adopted in U.S. strategic planning, relies on flexible, capability-based cooperation with trusted regional powers. Azerbaijan fits precisely this profile — a state with modernized armed forces, operational interoperability with Türkiye and Israel, peacekeeping experience, and logistical infrastructure capable of supporting missions of varying scope.
Beyond its defense credentials, Azerbaijan leverages its energy diplomacy and connectivity platforms — including the Middle Corridor and North-South Transport Corridor — as instruments of influence and stability. By combining hard and soft power elements, Baku positions itself not merely as a transit hub but as a provider of regional security and connectivity governance.
Admiral Cooper’s visit thus symbolizes a broader strategic recalibration. The South Caucasus is increasingly perceived not as a peripheral zone but as an integral part of the Eurasian security continuum, connecting the Black Sea, the Caspian, and the Middle East. Within this framework, Azerbaijan emerges as a pivotal node — balancing between Islamic, Turkic, and Euro-Atlantic vectors.
If current discussions within CENTCOM materialize into an operational framework that includes Azerbaijan, it would represent a qualitative transformation in the country’s global status. From a regional actor with limited scope, Baku would evolve into a contributor to international stabilization architecture — a transition from observer to shaper.
The visit of the CENTCOM Commander to Baku should therefore be interpreted as a strategic signal rather than a routine engagement. It underscores Washington’s acknowledgment of Azerbaijan’s growing relevance in shaping the post-conflict and post-pandemic security landscape.
As the dynamics from the South Caucasus to the Eastern Mediterranean converge, Azerbaijan is consolidating its role as a connector state — one that not only balances diverse interests but increasingly defines them.
