Azerbaijan’s increased international authority is fully reflected in the visits of the head of the Azerbaijani state, Ilham Aliyev, since the start of 2026. Of six foreign events, two involved participation in major international forums—on February 14 within the framework of the Munich Security Conference, where a series of meetings with heads of state and leading investment holdings took place; the head of Azerbaijan also participated in a panel discussion on the theme “Open Corridors Policy. Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation.” From January 19 to 22, Ilham Aliyev visited Davos for the World Economic Forum, where the signing ceremony of the “Peace Council Charter” took place. In a historic first for Azerbaijan, the Head of State held two meetings with US President Donald Trump within the span of three months: the first on January 22 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and the second on February 19 at the Peace Council meeting.    

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation - priority areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the USA

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was on a working visit to the United States on February 18–19 at the invitation of President Donald Trump to participate in the first meeting of the Peace Council in Washington. At the conclusion of the meeting, a Peace Council resolution on principles of financial discipline and transparency was signed. During the meetings, the issue of signing the «Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America» during the visit of the Vice President of the United States of America, J.D. Vance, to Azerbaijan was also touched upon. The Charter is defined as a priority area of cooperation, one of which is artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Previously, on January 22, 2026, Trump held a signing ceremony for the founding charter of the Peace Council within the framework of the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos. Leaders and foreign ministers of 19 countries, in addition to the United States, were present at the signing ceremony of the Peace Council’s founding charter in Davos and signed it. 

Also on February 18, the head of state met in Washington with Elliot Brandt, the Chief Executive Officer of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and other leaders. Elliot Brandt stated that Azerbaijan, where representatives of all religions and cultures live in peace and harmony as one family, serves as an example for the entire world. He expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and care shown to the Jewish community in our country at the state level. The Head of State emphasized that representatives of different religions have lived in harmony and a tolerant environment in Azerbaijan for centuries.

Cooperation in Balkans 

The visit of the head of Azerbaijan to the central Balkan country of Serbia is noteworthy, where on February 15 in Belgrade, the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia took place with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić. President I.Aliyev specifically noted the constantly expanding agenda of the two countries. “We cooperate closely not only in the political direction, on the international stage, but also implement important projects for our economy, our industry,” he said. President Vučić mentioned the construction of a power plant. “I believe that this is an important indicator of how we are diversifying our cooperation in the energy sector. We began with cooperation in the gas sphere, and now we are moving to the next stage - how to use this gas with maximum efficiency for both sides, to transform it into the final product - electricity. This will become one of Azerbaijan’s main investments in Europe in recent years. This also demonstrates a high level of mutual trust,” said the head of Serbia. Compared to 2012, trade turnover in the sphere of education and services has grown 16-fold, and 57 documents on cooperation have been signed by the countries.

Munich Security Conference

The participation of the President of Azerbaijan in the events of the Munich Security Conference on February 14 can be broadly categorized into three parts: the discussion sessions, state-level meetings, and private engagements (meetings with heads of companies and investment holdings). The primary themes of these meetings included energy security, the transport sector, investment, and technology.

During the panel discussion titled “Open Corridor Policy? Deepening Trans-Caspian Cooperation,” President Ilham Aliyev focused the audience’s attention on the Middle Corridor transport project - TRIPP - for moving cargo from China to Europe, emphasizing the historical role of Donald Trump in its implementation. It is known that 76 percent of the company will belong to the USA during the first 49 years, and 24 percent - to Armenia, and then for another 49 years. In other words, the company will function in this format for a century.

According to the Head of State, the geography of the project spans China, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Türkiye, and Europe, and Azerbaijan now already is very active in interaction with Central Asian countries. Last November, Azerbaijan was officially incorporated into C5; the Central Asian Five became C6. This is an unprecedented development because we are a country of the South Caucasus, but we are members of the Central Asian Consultative Council.

In addition to the existing route from China to the Caspian Sea via Kazakhstan, China is currently financing the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Caspian route. ‘Azerbaijan is a country which passes along the route of many countries, maintains good relations with all of them, and was able to initiate and lead transnational projects, such as the Baku–Mediterranean oil pipeline, the Baku–Italy gas pipeline. This will become another very strong political guarantee for cooperation across the vast territory of Eurasia,’ the President noted. 

European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Marta Kos noted the role of the private sector in this transport project. “We have drafted concrete projects on the agenda for Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Türkiye. You mentioned the TRIPP project, which we also consider a priority. Although it covers only 42 kilometers, we intend to implement not only TRIPP but also complementary projects. Without those, its full impact would not be realized. For instance, securing a new rail outlet through Nakhchivan is a matter of great interest to all relevant institutions”. 

“China’s relations with Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and other countries of the region have always been important,” said Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization and former State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China, speaking about the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.  “This strategy is aimed at simplifying transport communication along this route. Of course, China wants to contribute to the expansion of new corridors and the implementation of new projects”. 

The parties to the discussion also responded to a question from the representative of Mongolia regarding the simplification of customs procedures on routes passing through the borders of 14–16 countries, about what real steps should be taken to increase transit efficiency, and what active role the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development can play in this process.

In Munich, Ilham Aliyev met with Jared Cohen, President for Global Affairs of The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. During the meeting, an exchange of views took place on issues regarding the prospects for cooperation with The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in various sectors of the Azerbaijani economy.

Regarding state-level meetings, on February 14, President Ilham Aliyev met in Munich with Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. It was reported that the European Union is interested in the further development of relations with Azerbaijan. 

It was emphasized that extensive opportunities exist for cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union in the transport sector, as well as in the energy sector.

Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova expressed her gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for the support provided in the restoration of the “Trapezitsa” Architectural and Museum Reserve in Bulgaria.

During the conversation, both parties noted with satisfaction the Cooperation Agreement regarding the construction and reconstruction of “Shusha” Park in the city of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

The discussion also touched upon cooperation in the fields of energy, electricity exports, agriculture, tourism, and other sectors, as well as collaboration within the framework of international organizations.

On February 14 in Munich, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, met with Armin Laschet, Chairman of the Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs. Armin Laschet congratulated the Head of State on the progress achieved in Washington regarding the advancement of the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the congratulations and stated that achieving peace is of immense importance for the development of the region as a whole. 

It was emphasized that bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Germany are developing across various dimensions, including political, economic, trade, energy, and others. The significant role of Azerbaijan in Europe’s energy security was addressed, and views were exchanged on expanding interparliamentary cooperation and the prospects for bilateral relations. 

During the meeting, Azerbaijan’s role in interreligious and intercultural dialogue was highlighted, with both parties noting the importance of sharing this experience within an international context.

During the conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic, Robert Kaliňák, it was emphasized that the bilateral relations between the two countries, which hold the status of a strategic partnership, are based on mutual understanding and support. 

Humanism and brotherhood

On February 4, in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony was held, honoring President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan for establishing peace between the two peoples in Karabakh. 

Davos outlines boundaries of cooperation

On January 22, the “Peace Council Charter” signing ceremony took place in Davos, attended by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.

At the same time, Ilham Aliyev met with the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump. As reported by AZERTAC, during the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the development of relations between the countries in various fields, and the historical role of President Donald Trump in reaching the agreements of August 8, 2025, aimed at advancing the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, was emphasized. 

Pointing out that peace already exists in the region, President Ilham Aliyev noted that this is also reflected in the establishment of trade relations between the two countries. In this regard, he emphasized the export of petroleum products from Azerbaijan to Armenia, as well as the delivery of imported grain to Armenia through our country.

The Head of State noted that the Zangezur corridor, including the TRIPP project, plays an important role in strengthening regional ties.

In the course of the conversation, the importance of the Peace Council, established under the chairmanship of the President of the United States, was touched upon, and the significance of this organization in strengthening peace in the Middle East, as well as in facilitating the settlement of global conflicts, was noted.

During the visit to Davos, a series of substantive meetings were held with statesmen from countries ranging from Scandinavia to the Persian Gulf states. Discussions were held with the heads of investment holdings regarding the expansion and deepening of cooperation with the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), as well as investments in infrastructure of various profiles. It is also worth noting the broad thematic scope of the meetings with the leadership of international companies, during which negotiations were held on expanding the geography of oil exports, expanding activities in wind energy, a brewery, and the healthcare situation.

Thus, the Head of State met with the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos; issues of cooperation in the energy sector, regional transport links, humanitarian demining, and other areas were discussed, and our country’s contribution to Europe’s energy security was also touched upon. Marta Kos noted that the European Union is ready to support Azerbaijan’s humanitarian demining activities, as well as projects for the restoration of the Nakhchivan railway.

A meeting was held between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš. Andrej Babiš invited President Ilham Aliyev to pay an official visit to the Czech Republic. The Head of State, in turn, invited the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to pay an official visit to our country.

Ilham Aliyev met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction with the current level of our relations, emphasized the broad potential for the development of cooperation in many areas, including the economic and trade spheres, and expressed confidence in the further strengthening of the existing close ties between our countries. The successful cooperation of our countries in restoring the energy supply of the country through the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Syria by SOCAR was noted. 

In Davos, a meeting was also held between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog.

The success of the development of Azerbaijani-Israeli relations in various fields was emphasized. The existence of good opportunities for expanding cooperation in the economic, trade, energy, and other spheres was noted.

Ilham Aliyev met with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb. During the meeting, an exchange of views on regional issues took place, and the prospects for cooperation between the “Nordic-Baltic Eight” member states and Azerbaijan were touched upon. At the same time, the prospects for the development of Azerbaijani-European relations were noted.

In Switzerland, meetings were also held with the heads of energy holdings, including those in the field of renewable energy, during which the role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the energy security of Europe was discussed. In this regard, it was emphasized that Azerbaijani gas is supplied to a number of European countries, including a number of member states of the European Union.

During the visit of the Head of State to Davos, the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding on long-term cooperation between the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan and the company BlackRock, and its global infrastructure investment management company Global Infrastructure Partners, was emphasized. The document provides for the continuation of existing cooperation in a long-term strategic perspective, as well as the study of potential investment opportunities in Azerbaijan within the framework of an international platform for infrastructure investment. According to the memorandum of understanding, there are plans to consider the possibility of investing up to 1.5 billion US dollars in infrastructure funds and joint investment projects managed by SOFAZ and GIP over the course of 3-4 years. The cooperation includes an assessment of potential investment opportunities in data centers and infrastructure serving Azerbaijan’s regional needs in cloud technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as the study of partnership prospects, taking into account the operational and managerial expertise of Global Infrastructure Partners in the field of airport infrastructure.

It should be noted that the assessment of investment opportunities in infrastructure assets in Azerbaijan, or those related to it, is also one of the main directions of cooperation.

A meeting was also held between Ilham Aliyev and the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Odile Renaud-Basso. The bank’s implementation of various projects in the water sector in a number of regions, including Ganja and Sheki, was noted, and issues regarding the financing of projects adopted within the framework of the “State Program for the Improvement of Water Supply, Wastewater, and Drainage Systems in the City of Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula for 2026-2035” were discussed. 

During the meeting with André Esteves, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BTG Pactual, the Head of the Azerbaijani State touched upon issues of macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline in Azerbaijan, as well as its long-term development strategy, and stated that the policy pursued in this direction has had a positive impact on further strengthening our country’s position as a reliable partner in international financial markets. It was noted that preliminary discussions regarding possible directions of cooperation and strategic priorities recently took place between the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the aforementioned company, and a dialogue on issues of mutual interest is ongoing. During the conversation, an exchange of views took place regarding global economic processes, the current situation in international financial markets, the approaches of institutional investors to various regions, as well as the investment climate in emerging markets, long-term investment strategies, and mutual investment projects.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a special address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring Donald Trump. Additionally, as part of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, a panel discussion was held on the theme of “Defining Eurasia’s Economic Identity.”

The Head of Azerbaijan emphasized the historic nature of the achievements of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the signing of a peace agreement by both sides in August of last year; he expressed optimism that the result achieved truly serves the interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the South Caucasus. It reflects an example of countries that were once very hostile and which have reached a stage of cooperation. According to him, a very close alliance has been established with Türkiye, and huge investments have been made in Türkiye. The volume of our investments in Türkiye exceeds 20 billion dollars. Currently, we are among the countries that have made the largest investments in Georgia. In addition to the corridors passing through Georgia, the TRIPP transport project - implemented under the auspices of the United States - will create a new corridor stretching from Asia across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan and Armenia, then through Nakhchivan (part of Azerbaijan) to Türkiye, and onward to Europe. A multitude of route vectors benefits consumers, suppliers, and transit countries, said Ilham Aliyev.

“As a country, we always focus on the regional agenda,” the President said. “If we cannot achieve what is desired within the region, then we cannot speak of global goals. However, today we are speaking about the parallel rapprochement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as Armenia and Türkiye. This will undoubtedly lead to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan and Armenia, simultaneously and in parallel. Thus, we are taking a very important step in terms of transport accessibility, energy security, peace, and stability across a vast territory, in a part of Eurasia. This is an example of how protracted wars have been transformed into cooperation and partnership.”

In response to the question, “What role do you see for Serbia as a bridge between Europe and Asia?” the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, spoke about the importance of cooperation between countries in the context of events occurring in the modern world, stating: “The countries of the Caucasus are mediators and, at the same time, a connecting link between Europe and Asia. In fact, all three countries are members of the European Political Community.”

Thus, the Middle Transport Corridor TRIPP project and its Zangezur Corridor are on the agenda of practically all international visits of the head of the Azerbaijani state; the diversity and multi-vector nature of the routes will enhance their competitiveness and contribute to the further development of the manufacturing sector of the world economy, the head of Azerbaijan is confident. On the other hand, issues of financial stability and the investment attractiveness of the entire South Caucasus region also remained at the center of the international community’s attention.