Lesson of victory: President Aliyev on key principles of defending sovereignty

The keynote address delivered by President Ilham Aliyev at the 4th Global Media Forum, currently taking place in the pearl of Azerbaijan—the city of Shusha—made headlines in the world's media, as it included, among other things, messages to those countries which, amid today's geopolitical turbulence, are compelled to defend their sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and, in general, their right to exist with weapons in hand.

In this context, President Aliyev's response to a question regarding the Russia–Ukraine war deserves particular attention. Stressing that neither the Ukrainian people nor their leadership needed his advice, Ilham Aliyev nevertheless reiterated the fundamental principle that Azerbaijan has upheld for decades: to never accept occupation of one's own territory.

These words of the Azerbaijani president carry enduring significance and profound symbolic meaning, as they are rooted in the country's unique experience—an experience that merits the closest attention and may serve as a point of reference for nations currently engaged in armed conflict.

As is well known, for nearly thirty years a significant portion of the internationally recognised territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan remained under Armenian occupation, and Baku spent decades working toward the liberation of its native lands. During that time, the international landscape changed, governments in various countries came and went, and geopolitical alliances were formed and dissolved.

Yet Azerbaijan's position remained unwavering: the territorial integrity of the Azerbaijani state was never a matter for negotiation, and the country would not relinquish a single inch of its land. Such an example of strategic patience is undoubtedly one worthy of emulation.

No less important is the second aspect—the reliance on one's own strength. Over an extended period, Azerbaijan pursued the purposeful development of its economy, modernised its armed forces, and strengthened its state institutions, consistently expanding its capacity to make independent decisions.

International partners certainly played an important role, but the primary emphasis was placed on the country's own resources—economic, military, and diplomatic. Such an approach is particularly relevant in today's world, where the interests of even the closest allies do not always align with those of a country at war, as clearly demonstrated by the European Union's energy policy.

Despite the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, European countries imported a record volume of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Yamal LNG project during the first half of 2026. According to the Financial Times, citing the analytical platform Kpler, imports reached nearly 9.9 million tonnes—approximately 18 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, according to estimates by the environmental organisation Urgewald, European capitals may have paid around €6 billion for Russian gas, with France, Belgium, and Spain accounting for the largest purchase volumes. All of this has taken place against the backdrop of continuing Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and civilian targets.

On the other hand, this does not mean that European states have abandoned their support for Kyiv. Rather, they are acting in accordance with the basic principles of geopolitics, under which states are guided primarily by their own national interests, including energy security, economic considerations, and domestic stability. This leads to an obvious conclusion: any country facing the threat of losing its sovereignty and independence cannot base its long-term strategy solely on external assistance.

Azerbaijan learned this lesson exceptionally well, and it was precisely its reliance on its own strength and capabilities that enabled the country to achieve its historic Victory in the Patriotic War of the autumn of 2020, despite mounting external pressure. As President Aliyev stated at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Baku faced persistent pressure from various international mediators for many years.

"As I have said many times, the Minsk Group, led by the United States, France, and Russia, only wanted to take Garabagh from us — and not only Garabagh within the former administrative borders of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, but also the entire territory of the Lachin and Kalbajar districts — and hand it over to Armenia, expecting us to agree. In return, they promised us the return of five districts located to the east of where we are now. But neither I nor anyone in Azerbaijan would ever have agreed to this. But this was the consolidated position of the three leading countries, at least given that they are the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and I use this term deliberately, of the world. Opposing that position was quite difficult. When the Second Garabagh War began, they all demanded that we stop immediately.

They tried to intimidate us, threatened us, called us—some very insistently, others less so. But they all wanted us to stop so that everything would remain as it was. At one point, some of them told us: ‘All right, you have liberated Fuzuli, but stop there.’ We had to employ various diplomatic mechanisms. I sent our foreign minister to numerous meetings in Moscow, Washington, and Europe. The goal was to prevent Azerbaijan from restoring its territorial integrity. But that goal was not achieved, because it is impossible to break the will of the people. It is impossible to defeat a nation that strives for independence and the preservation of its identity,” Ilham Aliyev stated.

Another statement by the president is equally important, as he once again reaffirmed the unwavering position of Baku regarding Ukraine: “Therefore, I believe that, in any case, Azerbaijan's position remains unchanged. We have always supported, continue to support, and will continue to support Ukraine's territorial integrity, its sovereignty, and the inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. The borders of no state should be changed by force or without the consent of that country's people. In this regard, our position has been consistent and firm,” Ilham Aliyev stated.

Today, as the global geopolitical system is experiencing one of the most challenging periods since the Cold War, many states are adjusting their policies in response to current economic interests or shifts in the international environment.

Under such circumstances, Azerbaijan has consistently demonstrated the continuity of its positions and the steadfastness of its approaches, which are based on respect for the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity. This principled stance and commitment to its word are precisely the qualities that have earned the trust and respect of the international community, including Ukraine, toward the Azerbaijani state and its leader, President Ilham Aliyev.