Opinion: “Azerbaijan’s decision to interweave the global urban development agenda with its own post-conflict recovery story was deliberate and, on reflection, relevant”

When Baku was selected to host the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), it was not merely a recognition of Azerbaijan’s growing organizational capacity on the world stage. It was, in many ways, a fitting venue for a conversation about post-conflict reconstruction that the country has been engaged in more urgently…

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Meloni Visits Baku to Cement the Italy–Azerbaijan Strategic Partnership

Executive Summary: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited Azerbaijan on May 4, holding talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku that produced a roadmap for elevating their comprehensive strategic partnership across energy, defense, investment, and education. Meloni arrived in Baku directly from the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, a route that reinforces the…

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Moscow’s pipeline blackmail: Lessons from the Druzhba Blockade and the need for infrastructural sovereignty

A Calculated Impasse On April 22, 2026, Russian oil started flowing again through the Druzhba pipeline to Europe, with reparations works handled by Ukrainians after a rupture amidst the events of the war. Yet, after a series of reports, it was confirmed that Russia would halt the passage of Kazakh oil sent to Germany through…

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Hormuz Blockade Pushes China Toward Continental Energy Suppliers and Overland Routes

The US-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led Beijing to switch to continental suppliers of energy from Russia and Central Asia to offset the disruption of oil supplies from the Persian Gulf. Disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz once again reveal the structural vulnerabilities of global oil markets. As the world’s largest…

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IDD Releases Spring 2026 Edition of Baku Dialogues

The Institute for Development and Diplomacy (IDD) at ADA University is pleased to announce the publication of its latest edition of Baku Dialogues, its flagship English-language quarterly policy journal. Published under the title “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,” the issue coincides with the forthcoming opening of the 13th session of the…

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Heydar Aliyev: The leader behind Azerbaijan’s modern achievements and advanced relations with Europe

Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s third president (1923–2003), remains the foundational architect of the country’s modern achievements and its deepening partnership with Europe. The pipelines, institutions and diplomatic doctrines he set in motion more than three decades ago have made Azerbaijan an indispensable energy and transit partner for the EU — a legacy now embodied in the…

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The end of pretending: the Putin-Pashinyan meeting reveals the depth of mutual frustration

Last week, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan in a rather unexpected manner paid a visit to Moscow, reportedly fixed at his own request. During his visit, Armenian leader was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (Aysor.am, April 1). Arguably, the visit was dictated by the pre-election logic: Pashinyan, routinely accused…

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Opinion: Karabakh’s Heritage Controversy

Since the early days of Azerbaijan’s restoration of sovereignty over the formerly occupied Karabagh region in 2020/2023, some Armenian political circles and diaspora networks have accused Baku of destroying Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the liberated territories. The recent claims about the demolition of some structures in Khankandi, Karabakh, have brought this issue back…

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The path to peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia: Remaining risks and challenges

In recent years, the momentum generated in the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia has brought the sides closer to permanently overcoming a conflict that lasted for around three decades. Since 2020, new geopolitical realities have emerged, creating a tangible basis for the conclusion of a peace agreement between the parties. Within this context,…

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