AZE.US
Azerbaijan is strengthening its position as an independent diplomatic actor capable of maintaining working relations with both Russia and Ukraine, according to Turkish political analyst and professor Toghrul Ismayil.
Speaking in an interview with the YouTube channel “Geopolitics with Barvinenko,” Ismail said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov’s diplomatic route from Moscow to Kyiv reflected Baku’s growing international influence.
As AZE.US reports, the analyst described the sequence of visits as more than routine diplomatic scheduling.
“This is no longer simply diplomatic activity. It reflects Azerbaijan’s new foreign policy role,” Ismail said. “The route from Moscow and then to Kyiv carries important symbolic and strategic meaning.”
According to the professor, Azerbaijan has preserved channels of communication with both sides of the conflict while pursuing an independent, multi-vector foreign policy based on its national interests.
Azerbaijan Avoids Choosing Geopolitical Camps
Ismail said Baku’s approach resembles Turkey’s policy of supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity while maintaining political dialogue with Moscow.
He argued that Azerbaijan is not seeking to become a mediator at any cost and does not want to align itself fully with any competing geopolitical bloc.
Instead, the country is focused on protecting its national interests and preserving space for dialogue between regional and global powers.
“This balanced policy is earning respect from many international partners, including Ukraine,” he said.
Ismail added that Azerbaijan’s international standing had increased significantly after the restoration of its territorial integrity.
In his view, this has strengthened confidence in Baku as a government capable of engaging with Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, the European Union, Central Asian countries and states across the Middle East.
From Energy Hub to Diplomatic Platform
The analyst said modern diplomacy is no longer limited to peace negotiations and conflict settlement.
It increasingly involves transportation routes, energy security, food stability and regional connectivity, areas in which Azerbaijan already plays an important role.
Strategic transport and energy corridors linking Europe and Asia cross Azerbaijani territory. As a result, Ismail said, Azerbaijan’s stability has become a broader factor in international security.
He also noted the similarity between the recent diplomatic schedules of the Turkish and Azerbaijani foreign ministers.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also traveled first to Moscow and then to Kyiv. According to Ismail, the parallel routes may reflect coordinated approaches between Ankara and Baku on major regional security issues.
He pointed to the 2021 Shusha Declaration, which elevated relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey to the level of an alliance and provided for consultations on regional and global security challenges.
“Bayramov’s visit first to Moscow and then to Kyiv should not be seen as a coincidence,” Ismail said. “It is an indication of Azerbaijan’s growing international weight.”
The professor concluded that Baku is gradually emerging as an independent center of regional diplomacy with the ability to contribute to a new security and cooperation architecture across Eurasia.
AZE.US