AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s absence from the recent NATO summit in Türkiye should not be interpreted as a sign of problems in relations between Baku and Ankara, according to Farhad Mammadov, chairman of the South Caucasus Research Center.
Writing on his Telegram channel, Mammadov said speculation surrounding Azerbaijan’s absence was unfounded, stressing that the summit’s agenda was focused almost entirely on NATO’s internal cohesion and support for Ukraine.
He noted that the meeting did not include the usual sessions involving NATO partner countries, such as discussions related to the Partnership for Peace program or peacekeeping operations. Azerbaijan has traditionally participated in NATO summits within those formats, he said.
“If those issues are not on the agenda, there is simply no need for partner-country participation,” Mammadov argued.
He also praised Türkiye’s organization of the summit, describing it as successful both in substance and execution.
Mammadov further pointed out that during the same period, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hosted U.S. Senator Steve Daines in Baku. According to the analyst, such visits are planned well in advance and reflect the continued constructive momentum in U.S.-Azerbaijan relations.
AZE.US