Azerbaijan, NATO discuss current, future cooperation, regional security PHOTO

Speaker of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament), Sahiba Gafarova, met with a NATO delegation led by Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska to discuss the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation.

The Milli Majlis Press and Public Relations Department reported that the meeting highlighted over 30 years of Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation and praised the Alliance’s role in maintaining international peace and security, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Both sides emphasised the importance of a sustained and substantive political dialogue. Visits by President Ilham Aliyev to NATO headquarters, the 2024 visit of former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to Azerbaijan, and regular contacts were noted as indicators of intensified partnership.

The talks recognised Azerbaijan as a reliable NATO partner committed to its obligations, highlighting the country’s participation in NATO peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and its significance as a regional transport and logistics hub.

Energy security was also discussed, with Azerbaijan currently supplying natural gas to ten NATO member states and two partner countries—a role of heightened importance as energy security becomes integral to national security. 

Gafarova additionally emphasised Azerbaijan’s transit role in the Middle Corridor, noting its significant contribution to regional stability and cooperation.

Šekerinska stated that NATO values its relationship with Azerbaijan and highly appreciates the close political dialogue, expressing confidence that relations will deepen under the new Partnership Program.

The meeting also underscored the importance of ties between the Milli Majlis and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly while reviewing future cooperation prospects.

By Jeyhun Aghazada