President Aliyev: Global security can no longer be addressed within national borders

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called for stronger international cooperation to address increasingly complex security threats, stressing that terrorism and other transnational challenges can no longer be effectively tackled through isolated national efforts.

In an address to participants of the 4th Baku Security Forum, Aliyev noted that the event brings together heads and representatives of special services and security agencies from various countries, providing an important platform for exchanging views and developing mutually beneficial cooperation in international security, Caliber.Az reports.

“The year-by-year expansion of the Forum’s geographical reach, along with the growing relevance of the issues under discussion, is a testament to the increasing international significance of the Baku platform,” Aliyev said, expressing confidence that the event would make an important contribution to advancing security cooperation and facilitating the exchange of ideas and experience.

Turning to the broader global security environment, Aliyev pointed to the mounting pressures shaping international relations and their implications for global stability.

“Today, the world is undergoing a period of rapid and complex change. Processes taking place within the system of international relations, intensifying geopolitical competition, and ongoing conflicts and confrontations in various regions are having a profound impact on the global security environment,” Aliyev said.

He added that the deepening crisis of trust and growing difficulties in achieving mutual understanding had made the strengthening of national security architectures and the maintenance of international stability fundamental priorities for all countries.

“Ensuring peace, stability and security in the world is a shared responsibility of all states,” the president added. “The scale and increasingly complex nature of modern challenges require stronger cooperation and the adoption of agile and coordinated approaches.”

Aliyev stressed that the interconnected nature of today’s security environment means that instability emerging in one part of the world can quickly have consequences elsewhere.

“This is because the concept of security is no longer confined within the borders of individual states,” he said, stating that a crisis or flashpoint of tension emerging in one region can rapidly affect others, undermine political and economic stability, threaten energy and food security, and cause serious disruptions to transport and communication links.

The Azerbaijani leader noted that terrorist and extremist groups, transnational organised crime networks and illicit arms and drug trafficking, alongside cybercrime and other transborder threats, are increasingly exploiting these interconnections.

“Taking advantage of this interconnectedness, terrorism and extremism, transnational organized crime, illicit arms and drug trafficking, cybercrime and other transborder threats are becoming increasingly complex,” Aliyev said.

The president also highlighted the growing use of modern technologies and new capabilities to expand the operational scope of terrorism, pointing in particular to the security risks arising from the malicious use of digital tools.

“Of particular concern is the use of modern technologies and new capabilities to expand the operational scope of terrorism. The malicious use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, facilitates the spread of radical ideas, expands the financial resources of terrorist networks and facilitates the recruitment of new supporters, creating serious challenges to the effectiveness of counter-terrorism efforts,” Aliyev underscored.

Against this backdrop, he stressed that counter-terrorism efforts must extend beyond national frameworks and remain a central area of international cooperation.

“Under these conditions, the fight against terrorism must not be limited to the efforts of individual countries, but should remain a key area of international cooperation and joint action,” the president said.

Aliyev also emphasised the importance of prevention, arguing that effective security policies should address not only existing threats and their consequences but also risks before they materialise.

“To ensure security effectively, it is vital not only to combat existing threats and address their consequences, but also to identify risks in advance and prevent them in a timely manner. To this end, strengthening mutual trust among states, developing professional ties between security agencies, and enhancing the effectiveness of information exchange are of paramount importance. Experience shows that partnerships based on open and reliable dialogue enable more agile and effective responses to even the most complex security challenges,” he added.

Turning to Azerbaijan’s approach to international security, Aliyev said the country considers peace and security, mutual trust and broader cooperation among its key priorities.

“Azerbaijan considers ensuring international peace and security, strengthening mutual trust among states and expanding cooperation among its key priorities,” the president said.

He noted that Azerbaijan attaches particular importance to promoting dialogue on security issues and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation through international and regional platforms.

“The organization of the Baku Security Forum serves these objectives by creating conditions for identifying concrete avenues of cooperation and further strengthening mutual trust,” Aliyev said.

Looking ahead, the president expressed confidence that the discussions at this year’s Forum would contribute to a deeper understanding of contemporary global security challenges, while helping identify new approaches to their prevention and further strengthen cooperation between special services and security agencies.

“This, in turn, will contribute to consolidating international security and building a more stable and secure world for future generations,” Aliyev said.

Concluding his address, the Azerbaijani president wished the Forum success and its participants fruitful discussions and productive cooperation.

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 4th Baku Security Forum, Caliber.Az reports via state media.