AZE.US
Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategy is focused on maintaining balanced relations with major geopolitical powers while preserving regional stability, former Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Tofig Zulfugarov said in an interview with the YouTube channel Daily Europe Online.
According to Zulfugarov, the country’s geographic position between major regional actors requires a careful and pragmatic diplomatic approach.
“Maintaining equal distance and balanced relations with competing geopolitical centers is often the only viable strategy for smaller states,” he said.
The former diplomat noted that Azerbaijan occupies a unique position, as it borders both Russia and Iran, two countries currently involved in major geopolitical tensions.
“Azerbaijan would like to avoid being drawn into large and destructive conflicts unfolding both north and south of its borders,” Zulfugarov said, emphasizing that Baku seeks to preserve stability while facilitating communication and economic links in the region.
He added that growing instability in the Middle East increases the strategic importance of transport routes passing through the South Caucasus, including the Middle Corridor and the North-South international transport route.
Zulfugarov also commented on the recent drone attacks on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, saying Baku responded quickly and firmly, prompting political signals from Tehran that the Iranian government was not behind the strikes.
According to him, internal political fragmentation in Iran means that different power centers may act independently, which complicates the regional security environment.
The former foreign minister also addressed discussions about the Azerbaijani population in northern Iran, stressing that Azerbaijan has no territorial claims against Iran.
“At the same time, Azerbaijan would like to see a stable neighbor where balanced national policies ensure the rights and interests of all ethnic and religious communities,” Zulfugarov said.
He concluded that Baku’s strategic goal is to support regional stability while maintaining constructive relations with all neighboring countries and global powers.