Baku breeze over the Hudson Meetings and negotiations in New York

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva are attending the landmark 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Azerbaijan is also represented by Assistant to the President and Head of the Department for Foreign Policy Issues of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov, and other delegation members.

This year’s General Assembly convenes amid a deepening crisis in international relations and international law, which has directly impacted the UN itself. For years, world leaders have called for reform of the organisation—particularly the Security Council, whose current composition no longer reflects the realities of global power. President Aliyev has consistently highlighted the need to expand the Security Council to include countries from the Global South, proposing that a Muslim country be included on a rotational basis with veto rights.

At the same time, the UN Security Council—and the General Assembly more broadly—remain essential platforms for the international exchange of views and the development of solutions to global security challenges. The UN continues to play a crucial role in promoting stability, peace, and sustainable development worldwide, including through the implementation of humanitarian assistance programs.

In this context, participation in General Assembly sessions is one of the most effective ways for any country to make its voice heard on the global stage.

Equally important is the UN platform’s role in facilitating bilateral meetings. President Ilham Aliyev has been making excellent use of these opportunities.

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the President of Azerbaijan has already met with several heads of state, including President of Finland Alexander Stubb, President of Iraq Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, President of Kenya William Samoei Ruto, and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

📹 Видео из Нью-Йорка: от имени президента США Дональда Трампа и первой леди Мелании Трамп был организован официальный приём по случаю 80-й сессии Генеральной Ассамблеи ООН. В мероприятии приняли участие Президент Азербайджана Ильхам Алиев и первая леди Мехрибан Алиева.

Выступая… pic.twitter.com/YCUuHuO5m0

— Caliber (@Caliberaz) September 24, 2025

Particular interest was sparked by video footage from the official reception hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, which First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared on her Instagram account. In the footage, the American leader touched on Armenian-Azerbaijani relations and asked President Ilham Aliyev how long the conflict had lasted, suggesting it had been around 20 years. Aliyev corrected him, stating it had lasted over 30 years, and expressed gratitude to Trump for his assistance in resolving the conflict, emphasising that it was ultimately concluded thanks to the efforts of the U.S. President. This candid dialogue served as yet another indication of the growing trust between the leaders of the United States and Azerbaijan.

Another important component of President Aliyev’s bilateral meetings was his discussions with the heads of major investment firms — Brookfield Asset Management, Neuberger Berman, and Blackstone — indicating that attracting foreign capital is becoming a key factor in the country’s foreign economic activity. During these discussions, there was also an exchange of views on Azerbaijan’s potential in the field of renewable energy and prospects for transforming the country into a regional energy hub.

Alongside strengthening ties with the United States, Baku, following the traditions of a multi-vector foreign policy, is actively engaged in integration processes with the Far East region, primarily with China.

The speech by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov at the high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative further confirmed this policy. The minister noted that the traditionally friendly relations between Azerbaijan and China have reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for Chinese initiatives — on global development, security, civilization, as well as climate issues. Bayramov emphasised that Azerbaijan remains a reliable participant in regional cooperation and contributes to the establishment of peace, the development of connections, and sustainable development through transformative projects, including the East–West and North–South transport routes, particularly the Middle Corridor linking China and Central Asia with Europe.

It is also worth highlighting another success of Azerbaijani diplomacy: on September 25, as part of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, the international conference “Overseas Territories after the Bougainville Agreement: Recolonisation or Decolonisation?” will be held at UN headquarters in New York, organised by the Baku Initiative Group. This event underscores the international community’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s efforts in combating neocolonialism.

Tomorrow, September 25, President Ilham Aliyev is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly from its high podium—a key moment we will cover in our upcoming publications.

Taken together, President Aliyev’s participation in both formal sessions and bilateral meetings at the UN General Assembly further strengthens Azerbaijan’s international ties and contributes to enhancing the country’s global standing.