Baku’s diplomatic mediation: Bridging Eastern Europe and the Middle East Article by EU Reporter

An article has been published on the EU Reporter website, focusing on Azerbaijan's mediation efforts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Caliber.Az reprints the article.

Azerbaijan has significantly strengthened its position on the international stage by resolving its longstanding territorial conflict with Armenia and liberating its occupied lands. This victory has elevated Azerbaijan’s geopolitical status, reinforced its strategic partnerships in the region, and enabled the country to implement its proactive foreign policy on a broader scale. Azerbaijan’s foreign policy now transcends the South Caucasus region, positioning the country as an active player in the Middle East, Central Asia, and other strategically significant areas. Azerbaijan’s independent and multi-faceted foreign policy underscores its global mission to promote peace, security, and prosperity. This positioning has also enabled Azerbaijan to be potential mediators in the conflicts among global actors.

West-Russian Mediation

In his recent interview to a Russian TV President Ilham Aliyev highlighted: “I hope things do not escalate to a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia… As for Azerbaijan’s commitments, we take all our responsibilities as seriously as possible and will continue to do so. I believe Azerbaijan can contribute to the cause of détente – a somewhat forgotten term. I think this word is increasingly relevant in the international lexicon today, and I hope it will be used more frequently. Due to the unique nature of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, and the fact that Azerbaijan is seen as an entirely independent player in both the West and the East, it is positioned to play a distinct role. Azerbaijan is the only country that is an ally of both Russia and Türkiye, a NATO member. No other nation holds such a position.”

As a matter of fact, Azerbaijan previously hosted meetings between the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Army and the Chief of NATO’s Military Committee. Senior officials from both the United States and Russia have also met in Baku. Earlier in April, President Aliyev mentioned that Azerbaijan has good relations with both – Ukraine and Russia, and he personally knows the respective leaders.

The Middle East and Azerbaijan’s diplomatic initiatives

While President Ilham Aliyev alluded that Azerbaijan geography and his personal contacts in Eastern Europe can be utilized for wider dialogue, he was overall careful not be involved in the Middle Eastern conflicts. There were reports in July 2024 that Lebanon asked Azerbaijan to mediate with Israel before the latter began operations against Hezbollah. It looked like that official Baku was not eager to take active mediation role in the hotbed of the conflicts.

However, recent development, especially around Syria, manifests that Azerbaijan might play, maybe not the central, yet the crucial role as a trusted messenger between various sides of the actors in the Middle East.

Amid potential tensions between Türkiye and Israel in Syria after the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Azerbaijan’s role as a mediator has garnered attention. The essence of this mission was demonstrated during a recent visit by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, to Israel.

While official statements regarding Hajiyev’s high-level meetings with Israeli leadership focused on bilateral relations and discussions about regional developments in the Middle East, reliable sources indicate that the visit’s primary objective was to prevent potential misunderstandings between Türkiye and Israel in Syria and to facilitate dialogue between the two parties. These efforts align with Azerbaijan’s balanced foreign policy strategy as well as its strategic interests in relations with both Türkiye and Israel. While Baku openly supports its ally Türkiye’s regional interests in the Middle East, it also pursues a constructive and pragmatic policy with many partners in the Middle East.

It is worth mentioning that in 2015, after Türkiye shot a Russian military jet in Syria, which caused a crisis between the two countries, President Aliyev made efforts to mediate between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The subsequent events manifested that those efforts were successful.

In September 2023, Hikmet Hajiyev said that Azerbaijan suggests a new trilateral format of cooperation with Israel and Türkiye. However, events in Gaza in October 2023 derailed he possibility of such dialogue.

Azerbaijan-Türkiye cooperation and humanitarian initiatives in Syria

Shortly after Hikmet Hajiyev’s visit to Israel, a telephone conversation took place between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The conversation focused on the evolving situation in Syria, the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, and the prospects for future stability in the region. A notable aspect of the discussion was President Aliyev’s expressed support for Türkiye’s efforts to restore stability in Syria and Azerbaijan’s readiness to take concrete steps to address the humanitarian challenges faced by the Syrian people. This not only reflects Azerbaijan’s strong relations with Türkiye but also highlights Azerbaijan’s active policy toward achieving stability in the Middle East.

In this context, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement affirming Azerbaijan’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, emphasizing ongoing consultations with Türkiye and other partner countries. The Ministry’s statement reiterated Azerbaijan’s commitment to addressing the humanitarian challenges facing the Syrian people. These diplomatic initiatives should be seen as integral to Azerbaijan’s regional and international humanitarian policy.

Conclusion

Azerbaijan’s diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East exemplify its contributions to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the region. By mediating between various actors, Azerbaijan is working to prevent potential crises in the Middle East while achieving tangible results. Simultaneously, through its humanitarian diplomacy, Azerbaijan provides real support to address the challenges faced by regional populations. This policy further strengthens Azerbaijan’s international standing, presenting it as a reliable partner in promoting peace and security. Azerbaijan’s proactive role in the Middle East once again proves that Baku is a constructive and active player in ensuring regional stability and global security.