Expert points to Azerbaijan’s military successes as key to its rising influence

Azerbaijan should be viewed not only as a geopolitical player in Eurasia, but also as a state whose growing international influence will increasingly have to be taken into account in the years ahead, said Michael Levystone, co-founder of the New Eurasia Observatory (ONE) and an expert on Central Asia and Russian foreign policy.

Speaking at the international conference “Security and Cooperation in the South Caucasus” in Baku, Levystone outlined several key factors behind the strengthening of Azerbaijan’s role on the international stage. He pointed to the country’s military successes during the 2020 Patriotic War and the restoration of its sovereignty in 2023, as well as its current foreign policy course, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

According to Levystone, Azerbaijan’s strategy rests on three key directions. The first is the diversification of its foreign policy partnerships through the expansion of ties with the European Union and the United States, he said.

He identified the expansion of the country’s export base, including through renewable energy, as the second direction. The expert also highlighted Azerbaijan’s ambitions to develop its agro-industrial, woodworking, steel, and chemical industries.

“Azerbaijan strives to reduce its dependence and the associated risks caused by the volatility of global oil and gas prices,” Levystone said.

He cited active multilateral diplomacy as the third key factor. In this context, Levystone pointed to Azerbaijan’s hosting of major international events, including the COP29 climate conference in November 2024.

“All these factors establish Azerbaijan as a power - what is today called a middle power, whose influence goes far beyond its national borders and immediate interests. Therefore, Azerbaijan should be viewed as a geopolitical player not only in Eurasia but also as a state that the world will have to reckon with in the coming years,” Levystone emphasised.

By Jeyhun Aghazada