Baku: Azerbaijan is carving out a unique geopolitical identity amidst a backdrop of historical conflicts and newfound peace in the South Caucasus. “Just a few years ago, the region was fragmented by borders, lines of contact, and conflicts. Today, real peace prevails in the South Caucasus, and Azerbaijan remains committed to strengthening it,” stated Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration. His remarks were made during the ‘South Caucasus: A Strategic Hub in the Making’ session, part of the ADF2026.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Hajiyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s multifaceted geopolitical identity. He noted that, while Azerbaijan is intrinsically linked to the South Caucasus, it also shares ethnic, historical, and cultural ties with Central Asia. These connections position Azerbaijan within a broader geopolitical space. Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan’s active role in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which serves as a platform for geopolitical cooperation.
Furthermore, Hajiyev pointed to Azerbaijan’s geographical proximity to the Middle East as an enabler of additional cooperative efforts. He cited the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Syria cooperation as a significant example of this emerging collaboration. This multifaceted approach reflects Azerbaijan’s strategic efforts to navigate and influence the geopolitical landscape in its region.