President Aliyev and his formula for peace How a leader changes the fate of a region

At one time, the German statesman Otto von Bismarck, known as the “Iron Chancellor,” repeatedly noted: “The fate of a nation is determined by the character of its leader.” For Azerbaijan, this statement is not an abstract idea but has very practical significance. In complex regional and global circumstances, the country is led by a leader who has ensured continuity of policy, internal stability, and the consistent defence of national interests — President Ilham Aliyev.

It is particularly gratifying when indicators that define a country’s strategic direction receive international recognition. A notable example of this is the awarding of the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity by the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Foundation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the President of Azerbaijan.

What makes this recognition especially significant is that the Foundation’s official website highlights that the award was granted for the signing of the “Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia,” which ended the decades-long conflict and alleviated humanitarian suffering in the Caucasus.

Brief background: The Sheikh Zayed Foundation is a financial and investment institution established by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) to support entrepreneurship and sustainable development in the UAE. By financing small and medium-sized enterprises and creating jobs, the Foundation has expanded its activities to other regions through partnerships with local organisations, promoting economic progress and fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs based on the principles of solidarity and respect.

Recipients of the Foundation’s prestigious award have also included Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb — in recognition of his significant role in strengthening tolerance in the Islamic world, advancing interfaith understanding, and promoting dialogue among different religions — and Pope Francis, in recognition of his efforts and contributions to promoting peace and his role in fostering dialogue between different religions and cultures.

As emphasised by Mohamed Abdelsalam, a member of the jury and Secretary-General of the Zayed Human Fraternity Award, “This year, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity committee selected the historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which embody the award’s mission and objectives in promoting and fostering a culture of dialogue and coexistence, marking a pivotal milestone in advancing global peace and a major diplomatic achievement – turning the page on nearly four decades of tension and conflict in the Caucasus and laying a strong foundation for a safer, shared future for both peoples.”

To this assessment, it can only be added that this prestigious award reflects not only the personal leadership qualities of President Ilham Aliyev but also serves as an indication that the peace agenda established by the Azerbaijani state in the post-conflict period has received global recognition.

By achieving victory in the Patriotic War of Autumn 2020 and successfully carrying out a one-day counterterrorism operation in September 2023, Azerbaijan fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, clearly demonstrating to the world that even the most longstanding territorial disputes can be resolved in accordance with international law. Taken together, these accomplishments have strengthened Azerbaijan’s position both in the South Caucasus—where conditions for a cooperative and stable environment have been established—and on the global stage.

In the years that followed, official Baku resolutely pursued its peace agenda, focused on stability and security. Along the way, the country faced unprecedented pressure from forces seeking to stir revanchist sentiments in Armenia and provoke new tensions in the South Caucasus—challenges that required the leadership of a determined and politically strong figure. President Ilham Aliyev rose to this task with remarkable skill.

Without compromising the positions he had consistently articulated, President Aliyev steadfastly defended Azerbaijan’s core principles of a peaceful agenda on the international stage. This culminated on August 8, 2025, with the signing of the draft “Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia” by the foreign ministers of both countries, in the presence of the two national leaders and U.S. President Donald Trump at what is widely regarded as the world’s premier office.

This landmark event represented another decisive diplomatic victory for President Aliyev and reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s standing on the global stage as a triumphant nation—a country that, through the determination of its leadership, finally consigned to history a conflict that had long posed an existential threat to the South Caucasus, and potentially to the broader region.

Thus, it can be confidently stated that, in the system of international relations, Azerbaijan serves as an example of how, during periods of major change and external challenges, the decisive factor in a state’s stability is the national leader, whose political will and strategic thinking determine not only the country’s developmental trajectory and internal stability but also its successes on the global stage.

The awarding of the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Prize to President Ilham Aliyev is further proof that the independent Republic of Azerbaijan is led by a world-class leader respected by the international community, under whose guidance the country will continue its steady progress.