Strategic Partnerships and a Transit Hub: Azerbaijan in 2026

In a wide-ranging interview with local TV channels, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reviewed the outcomes of 2025 and set out Baku’s priorities for 2026. It offered a highly detailed and unusually candid account of Azerbaijan’s expectations and plans in foreign policy, the economy, the reconstruction of the liberated territories, security, and the social sphere.

Historic understandings in Washington
Most importantly, the interview described 2025 as a historic year in the sense that Azerbaijan is now learning what it means to live in conditions of peace. This is because, from a political standpoint, the Armenia–Azerbaijan war was brought to an end last year. For Baku, the key event of 2025 was the August understandings between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, through which Azerbaijan “consolidated the brilliant Victory achieved on the battlefield in the political arena.”
At the same time, Aliyev emphasized expectations that Congress will fully repeal Section 907—something he said would carry symbolic weight—and expressed confidence that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations are now developing in a pragmatic, results-driven direction, with partnership mechanisms actively taking shape.

China as a strategic partner
On the other hand, Baku described as a major achievement the deepening of its strategic partnership with China and the growth of trade and investment, including projects in transport and logistics (the Middle Corridor).
“China is also one of the world’s leading countries, and this political framework, this political platform, can certainly be viewed as a manifestation of our successful diplomacy.”
Notably, Azerbaijan sees its long-term development in green energy precisely in partnership and close alliance with China.
“Construction of a solar panel manufacturing plant has begun, and the assembly of electric buses has started. In this case, I must say this was a strategic decision by the Azerbaijani side, because when we decided to develop not only green energy but also green transport, the question was choosing a strategic partner—and the choice fell on Chinese companies.”

Central Asia as a geopolitical priority
At the same time, Azerbaijan’s geopolitical emphasis is clearly on strengthening ties with Central Asia and expanding the country’s transit role as a key East–West link. In this context, the Zangezur Corridor is framed as a project that is effectively settled.
“We naturally view it first and foremost as a link to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, but also as an international transport corridor… Flows can go, as we all know, in many directions. From here, in two directions to the West—first in one, and then in two directions—again via the Zangezur Corridor; to the South, toward the Middle East and the Persian Gulf; and of course, the northern direction will also be fully utilized.”
Other priorities include turning Azerbaijan into a regional hub for IT and artificial intelligence (data centers, cybersecurity, and workforce training), leveraging the country’s energy surplus. Considerable attention is also being paid to domestic infrastructure projects and to the reconstruction of Karabakh and East Zangezur.

Peace backed by strength
Aliyev particularly stresses that Azerbaijan is a peaceful country oriented toward cooperation and engagement, while also recognizing that global developments are moving in a direction where every country must, first of all, strengthen its military potential and its security.
“International law, the UN—these are all relics now, so outdated that clinging to them is simply not serious, and anyone who clings to them is living in an old reality. The new reality is what it is; it is, of course, shaped by major countries, but if a country is not very big yet has potential—including political, military, and economic—then it too can contribute to creating the new reality… War is the worst thing that can happen to a country and to a person—I say this with full responsibility. It is the worst. The best thing is peace. But for there to be peace, one must be strong, so we will continue working in this direction.”
Thus, Azerbaijan is moving toward an agenda of sustainable peace, expanded foreign-policy options, and accelerated economic development. The main goal is to turn the stability achieved into long-term stability, peace, and practical benefits for citizens. In parallel, Baku signals a course toward strengthening Azerbaijan’s international position by renewing relations with the United States and expanding strategic ties with China and Central Asian countries—reinforcing the country’s role as a reliable “bridge” in trade, energy, and logistics between East and West.
GSR
Link to the article https://azertag.az/ru/xeber/prezident_azerbaidzhana_ilham_aliev_dal_intervyu_mestnym_telekanalam___obnovleno__video-3951135

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