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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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Italy in Beijing: The 2024-2027 Action Plan’s legacy vs Sanchez-Xi understanding

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani has just concluded his three-day mission in China, where he met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi together with the Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Beijing. The diplomatic meeting was part of the continuation of the 2024–2027 Italy–China Three-Year Action Plan, which was  signed by…

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The instrumentalisation of the former conflict by the Armenian government in the upcoming election risks the peace process

The dynamics between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the end of the Second Karabakh War have been defined by a gradual, fragile transition from active conflict to an uneasy peace-building phase. The collapse of the separatist entity in 2023 and subsequent diplomatic engagement, supported by actors such as the United States and the European Union, created…

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Baku–Moscow Tensions Subdued, but Underlying Distrust Persists

Executive Summary: Azerbaijan lodged diplomatic protests against Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s comments on Karabakh during his April 1 meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, which Baku regarded as an attempt to reopen an issue it deems resolved. Despite accumulated grievances over the past year and a half, including the December 2024 targeting of…

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