President Ilham Aliyev’s formula for leadership Delivering on every promise

The world is engulfed in relentless bloodshed. In the 21st century—an age of rapid technological advancement and the rise of artificial intelligence—the deaths of innocent people have become an alarmingly routine feature of global life. Hundreds of thousands of lives are being destroyed, the environment is facing systematic degradation, and in many regions, moral and ethical crises have assumed a persistent, almost historical, dimension.

Against this backdrop, the world is gradually beginning to realise—still quietly, but tellingly—one of the key reasons behind these events: the absence of truly global-scale leaders on the international stage, with few exceptions.

We have been saying this for years. Global political leadership has effectively been lost, particularly in the so-called “blooming garden” of the self-proclaimed “First World.” Today, this group of states is the furthest removed from being able to offer the world a coherent philosophical, political, economic, or cultural agenda.

Meanwhile, leaders of a new group of states are increasingly asserting themselves on the world stage—not from the usual geopolitical centers. This refers to the heads of the so-called middle powers. Among them, one of the most prominent figures is Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev—and this prominence comes as no surprise.

Let’s be honest. How many leaders in the world today can be said to have their words match their deeds, whose word truly carries the weight of a signature? One example that illustrates this is the following: as early as 2014, President Ilham Aliyev, in an interview with The Business Year, emphasised that the Armenian side was deliberately delaying the negotiation process under various pretexts in an effort to preserve the existing status quo. He stated the importance of making it clear to the Armenian leadership that Baku would never allow a second Armenian state to be established on its historical territory, and that the conflict must—and will—be resolved within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Moreover, as he noted at the time, as long as the conflict continued, the Armenian state would remain excluded from all transnational and regional development projects in the region.

Said and done. This includes the fact that today, with Armenia having effectively accepted the main principles for resolving the conflict—although some essential tasks remain unfinished—Baku, for the first time, sent a train carrying AI-95 gasoline, produced at the Baku Oil Refinery, from Azerbaijan to Armenia via Georgian territory.

Isn’t this a clear demonstration of the unwavering political leadership of the President of Azerbaijan? As promised, Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has been restored, sovereignty ensured across the country, including the raising of national flags over all previously occupied lands.

Haven’t direct bilateral negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia also become a reality, resulting, in particular, in the August agreements at the so-called “number one office of the world,” including in the context of the so-called “Trump Route”?

Moreover, isn’t it the President of Azerbaijan who consistently fulfills all his commitments to ensuring Europe’s energy security—despite the fact that certain vested interests within the EU continue to fuel anti-Azerbaijani hysteria even today?

At the heart of it all is a guiding principle that shapes the head of state’s policies: always speak the truth to both his people and international partners, remain objective and transparent, and consistently uphold the norms and principles of international law. This principle forms the foundation of President Ilham Aliyev’s approach, allowing Azerbaijan to restore historical justice in multiple spheres solely through adherence to international law, without the slightest deviation from its standards.

Notably, this approach was clearly articulated by the head of state during his speech at the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum in July 2025. At that time, the President emphasized that the protection of national interests, as a fundamental element of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, cannot be pursued in isolation from the regional and global context. In this regard, he stressed that this framework “cannot be greatly abused. You must always look at the situation, try to look at the situation through the lens of your neighbor.”

In this context, it is hard not to agree that at the heart of this policy lies Azerbaijan’s commitment to peace and its desire to convey a simple yet fundamentally important message to the entire international community: such a philosophy should guide the development of humanity—whether in politics, economics, culture, or sports.

In other words, Ilham Aliyev is a leader of a new kind—unafraid to speak the truth and unwavering in fulfilling his commitments. This gives full confidence that the other goals and objectives he has outlined will be pursued and achieved consistently.

On his birthday in 2022, during a meeting with a group of representatives from the intelligentsia of Western Azerbaijan, the President expressed his certainty that the day will come when our compatriots from this historically Azerbaijani region—their families, children, and grandchildren—will return to their ancestral land: “I am sure that this day will come. I am sure the Western Azerbaijanis will return to their native lands with great desire and enthusiasm.”

As the head of state emphasized, the key factor that allows this to be stated with confidence is the “historical memory of our people.”

This is why there is complete confidence in their fulfillment. The President of Azerbaijan has instilled not only in his own people but also in the international community the understanding that, united with his nation, he consistently achieves the goals he sets. Consequently, all interested—and even seemingly indifferent—parties should take note: the realisation of the President’s promises is never a distant prospect. It is always in sight. And always within reach.

Happy birthday, Mr. President!