Swedish platform hails Azerbaijani president's role in South Caucasus

A recent article on Swedish analytical platform Agenda Nexus has spotlighted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the central architect of political balance in the South Caucasus.

The publication underscores the complex environment in which President Aliyev operates, citing resistance from Iran and Russia to the Zangezur Corridor project—dubbed “Trump’s Route for International Peace and Prosperity”—as well as intricate Western influence strategies, Caliber.Az cites per Azertag. 

In these circumstances, the Azerbaijani president combines subtle diplomacy, proactive measures, and flexible alliances to not only defend Baku’s interests but also to strengthen its role in regional politics.

The article notes Russia’s waning influence in the region, pointing out that Moscow had sought to secure itself as the dominant mediator in the South Caucasus by brokering peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia on its own terms and under its own control. However, strategic moves by Aliyev sidelined Russia, exposing strains in bilateral relations and signaling the start of a more complex political phase in the South Caucasus, the publication notes. 

Against this backdrop, the article points out that the Zangezur Corridor is highlighted as a potential mechanism to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy, giving the project strategic significance beyond the immediate region.

Agenda Nexus also details President Aliyev’s foreign policy maneuvers, including support for Ukraine, diplomatic tensions with France, and a pivot toward economic modernisation with a European orientation.

According to the platform, thanks to economic growth, large-scale infrastructure projects, and the strengthening of national identity, the head of the Azerbaijani state maintains a high level of public trust.