AIR Center

Executive Summary: Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on June 22, where they signed 13 agreements expanding cooperation in energy, transport, customs, industry, and diplomacy, institutionalizing a broader strategic partnership amid shifting Eurasian dynamics. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan prioritized trans-Caspian transport integration by advancing customs modernization, port cooperation, and east–west…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia this month has reignited conversations about the nature of the EU’s role in the South Caucasus. At face value, the European Union continues to devote increasing attention to the region. In the past few months, politicians in Brussels appear to have acknowledged the…

Key Takeaways The definition of a middle power has shifted from material size and military strength to behavioral traits like niche diplomacy, norm entrepreneurship, and proactive international engagement. Azerbaijan increasingly qualifies as a modern middle power through energy diplomacy, regional connectivity projects, hosting global events (COP29), and acting as a bridge-builder. This reflects a broader…

The South Caucasus is currently undergoing one of the most significant and forward-looking periods in its modern history. The complete restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty has brought an end to a long-standing conflict that claimed the lives of thousands of people and has created a new geopolitical reality in the region. Today, both…

Türkiye and Azerbaijan commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations on June 15, 2026. Shortly following the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War, the document was signed in the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, officially elevating bilateral relations from strategic partnership to alliance (President.az, June 15, 2021) Five years later, the significance…

In the contemporary system of international relations, the influence of states is determined not only by their territorial size or population, but also by their diplomatic activism, economic potential, military capabilities, and capacity to shape international processes. From this perspective, the Republic of Azerbaijan, with its growing influence at both regional and global levels in…

Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections produced a result whose significance extends well beyond the country’s borders. With Civil Contract, led by current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, securing 49.81 per cent of the vote, the Strong Armenia Alliance of Samvel Karapetyan at 23.29 per cent, and Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance at 9.94 per cent, Pashinyan retains…

The Middle Corridor has emerged as one of the key connectivity corridors between China, Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe. In the face of evolving geopolitical and economic conditions, this route has become increasingly important as a dependable alternative for East-West trade and transit. Nevertheless, the Middle Corridor’s future competitiveness…

As the European Union (EU) continues to struggle to properly recognise Türkiye’s importance for the European security architecture, Ankara’s relations with individual member states are simultaneously gaining notable momentum. Türkiye’s significance for the European continent is both substantial and self-evident. Türkiye’s economy is deeply integrated into European supply chains, and it is one of the…

The thirteenth session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku, is not merely a high-level international gathering; it is also a clear manifestation of Azerbaijan’s growing position within the global agenda on urban development and human settlements. Convened from 17 to 22 May 2026 under the theme “Housing the World: Safe…