BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. Azerbaijan has
become the pivotal political center of the region under the
leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, political analyst Azer
Garayev told Trend.
“October 15 marks a significant turning point in the political
history of independent Azerbaijan – it was on this day in 2003 that
President Ilham Aliyev was first elected head of state. Over the
years, Azerbaijan has experienced radical changes both domestically
and internationally, formed a new economic model, restored its
military and diplomatic power, and become a leading political
center in the region.
Under his leadership, the Azerbaijani statehood has entered a
new stage, built on stability, development, and national values.
Elected as President in 2003 with the trust of the people, Ilham
Aliyev’s strategic course has evolved in line with the demands of
the modern era. Over the past 22 years, the country has been
completely reborn not only economically, but also politically and
militarily.
Today, Azerbaijan has become an influential actor on the global
stage, firmly protecting its national interests through sovereign
decisions, and playing a decisive role in the security and
stability of the region. All these achievements are rooted in
farsighted policy, wise governance, and iron will – the leadership
of President Ilham Aliyev,” the analyst said.
According to him, when President Ilham Aliyev came to power in
2003, the main task ahead was to preserve stability, ensure
economic revival, and improve the welfare of the people. To achieve
these goals, he established a flexible, modern, and national
interest–oriented governance model.
“Fundamental reforms were carried out in the system of public
administration, and electronic government and digital services were
introduced. For example, the ASAN Service model has been recognized
not only in Azerbaijan but also internationally as an exemplary
initiative.
At the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, principles of
transparency and accountability in social governance were
reinforced. Most importantly, President Ilham Aliyev turned the
concept of ‘a state that works for the people’ into a reality.
Under his leadership, state-citizen relations became not merely
an administrative mechanism but a system built on mutual trust and
responsibility. Political stability and public solidarity have been
Azerbaijan’s greatest advantage over these 22 years. This stability
has served as the foundation of development, a guarantee of
economic growth, and international credibility.
President Ilham Aliyev introduced a new philosophy in the field
of economy: smart resource management and transition to the economy
of the future. Under his leadership, oil revenues were directed
toward social welfare, infrastructure, and the development of the
non-oil sector.
As a result of this policy, Azerbaijan ensured its economic
independence in a short time. Over the past 20 years, gross
domestic product has increased multiple times, the poverty rate has
dropped from 50 percent to five percent, and public debt has been
kept at a low level,” he explained.
Garayev pointed out that one of the biggest feathers in
Azerbaijan’s cap is its savvy energy diplomacy. Projects such as
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines, the
Southern Gas Corridor, and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline have
transformed Azerbaijan’s economic map. These projects have put the
country in the driver’s seat when it comes to Europe’s energy
security.
At the same time, he explained, President Ilham Aliyev initiated
a renewable energy policy and declared Karabakh and Eastern
Zangezur as a green energy zone. Solar, wind, and hydro energy
projects are shaping Azerbaijan’s energy future. This strategy is a
clear example of a modern approach both environmentally and
economically.
“Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has
also formed a fully independent position in international politics.
The country didn’t become part of any bloc nor fell under the
influence of other states. This is the essence of Azerbaijan’s
sovereign foreign policy. Azerbaijan is distinguished by its active
participation in international organizations.
During its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to
2023, the country acted as a defender of global justice,
multilateralism, and humanitarian values. President Ilham Aliyev
initiated humanitarian aid for developing countries during the
pandemic – a step that demonstrated Azerbaijan’s leadership role in
global solidarity.
Azerbaijan’s role in the Organization of Turkic States, the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the United Nations
platform has been growing year by year. Thanks to a balanced
policy, President Ilham Aliyev has maintained mutually beneficial
relations with both the West and the East. Today, Baku has become a
key center for dialogue on energy, transportation, and security
issues,” he said.
The political analyst emphasized that one of the main directions
in President Ilham Aliyev’s governance has been defense and army
building.
“Since 2003, he began to systematically strengthen Azerbaijan’s
military potential. This was not only about arming and technically
modernizing the army – it was the formation of a strategic concept
to protect the national spirit, the will for freedom, and state
independence. Over the years, Azerbaijan has built close military
cooperation with allies such as Israel, Türkiye, Pakistan, and
others. With the establishment of the Ministry of Defense Industry,
the country began producing its own weapons, unmanned aerial
vehicles, and armored equipment. At the same time, public trust in
the army was restored. Soldiers and officers were no longer just
military personnel – they became a source of pride for the people.
President Ilham Aliyev personally visited military units, monitored
combat readiness, and boosted the morale of the army.
The logical outcome of all this was the Second Karabakh War that
began on September 27, 2020. In 44 days, the Azerbaijani people
united around their head of state like a steel fist. President
Ilham Aliyev acted both as Supreme Commander-in-Chief and as a
leader on the diplomatic front. During the war, each of his
speeches uplifted the nation’s spirit and conveyed Azerbaijan’s
just cause to the world. This war was not merely a clash of armies
– it was a nation’s struggle to end 30 years of injustice.
President Ilham Aliyev’s declaration ‘Karabakh is Azerbaijan!’ went
down in history and turned into reality 44 days later. The
Azerbaijani Army took control of the heights of Shusha – this was
not just a military tactic but a triumph of national will. When
President Ilham Aliyev announced Victory Day to the nation, he had
already opened a new page in Azerbaijan’s history.
However, the process did not end there. The local anti-terror
measures carried out in September 2023 fully restored Azerbaijan’s
sovereignty. With the establishment of law and order, separatism in
Karabakh was brought to an end. This was the culmination of
President Ilham Aliyev’s 20-year strategic plan – a state policy
implemented gradually, decisively, and in stages. President Ilham
Aliyev’s leadership manifested itself at military, political, and
moral levels during this period. He not only liberated territory
but also restored the people’s confidence, dignity, and the
foundation of state sovereignty,” Garayev said.
The political analyst noted that immediately after the Second
Karabakh War, President Ilham Aliyev moved Azerbaijan’s regional
stability and cooperation policy to a new stage. Despite achieving
victory in the war, official Baku openly demonstrated its intention
to build a sustainable security architecture in the region by
offering a peace agenda to Armenia. This was an indication of both
political maturity and farsighted leadership. Although the Armenian
side initially responded ambiguously and sluggishly to these
proposals, President Ilham Aliyev’s consistent and principled
policy led the process to progress in a logical direction.
Azerbaijan proposed five key principles for the peace
agreement.
“On August 8, 2025, with the participation of U.S. President
Donald Trump in Washington, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint
declaration. Additionally, the foreign ministers of both countries
initialed the text of the peace agreement. This event marked the
beginning of a new historical phase in the South Caucasus and
further strengthened Azerbaijan’s role as a regional leader.
This achievement once again demonstrated that the path to peace
also requires strength and determination. Due to President Ilham
Aliyev’s strategic foresight, diplomatic flexibility, and political
stability, Armenia was not only forced to abandon its destructive
policies but also compelled to accept Azerbaijan’s conditions.
Thus, while the victory of 2020 began as a military triumph, it was
concluded with a diplomatic triumph in 2025 – the logical outcome
of President Ilham Aliyev’s statehood philosophy and policy based
on national interests,” he said.
At the same time, according to the analyst, after the Second
Karabakh War, President Ilham Aliyev set a new, perhaps more
complex and responsible, task for himself – the restoration of life
in the liberated territories and the implementation of the ‘Great
Return’.
“Since 2021, the reconstruction process in Karabakh and Eastern
Zangezur has begun at an unprecedented pace. In a short time,
Fuzuli International Airport was commissioned – symbolizing the
first sign of rebuilding in the liberated territories. Then
Zangilan and Lachin airports were also opened, revitalizing the
region’s economic and logistical connections.
New roads, bridges, electric and gas lines, water reservoirs,
and ‘smart city’ and ‘smart village’ projects are being implemented
one after another. The first resettlement process began in Aghali
village, becoming the first real example of return to Karabakh
after 30 years. Each time President Ilham Aliyev visits the region,
he meets with citizens, launches new projects, and personally
oversees every step.
The restoration of Karabakh is not just a physical
infrastructure project – it’s also a program of national and
spiritual revival. Here, freedom, justice, and development
converge. The ‘Great Return’ program implemented by the state
envisions the creation of new economic zones in the liberated
areas, the revival of agricultural and tourism potential, and the
restoration of cultural heritage.
Green Energy, Smart City, and Sustainable Agriculture projects
are being implemented in the nation’s Khankendi, Shusha, Fuzuli,
Aghdam, Jabrayil, and Zangilan territories. At the instruction of
President Ilham Aliyev, all infrastructures in these territories
are being built using modern technologies – solar energy panels,
smart management systems, and principles of environmental
sustainability are being applied.
The role of culture in the restoration process is also
important. Shusha is being restored as the cultural capital of
Azerbaijan. Historical monuments, mosques, mausoleums, and museums
are being revived. The declaration of 2022 as the ‘Year of Shusha’
showcased the cultural dimension of this mission to the world. At
the same time, the restoration of Karabakh has become a symbol of
social justice and national unity. Every family that returns here,
every house that is rebuilt, every tree that is planted carries a
message to the future generations of Azerbaijan: this land is now
eternally Azerbaijani,” he said.
Garayev emphasized that today, the Karabakh region is not only
being rebuilt, but also being reborn. With new roads, airports,
technoparks, educational institutions, and cultural centers, modern
life is being established here.
“President Ilham Aliyev has embraced this process as a personal
mission. His visits to Karabakh are not only business-related but
also spiritual journeys – during each visit, he meets with families
of martyrs, opens new buildings, and oversees the restoration of
villages. Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur are not merely being
returned to their previous state – they are being transformed into
the most developed regions of Azerbaijan. This is now a reality.
Karabakh is not just a region – it’s a symbol of Azerbaijan’s
revival, the brightest result of 22 years of leadership,” Garayev
said.
The analyst pointed out that, thanks to President Ilham Aliyev’s
leadership, Azerbaijan has also become one of Eurasia’s key
transportation hubs.
“The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the North–South and East–West
transport corridors, as well as the Zangezur corridor, have
elevated our country’s transit potential to a new level. These
projects are changing not only the economic map of the region but
also its geopolitical realities. The Zangezur corridor is of
particular strategic importance – it acts as a unifying bridge for
the Turkic world and as a main artery of Eurasian integration.
President Ilham Aliyev’s initiatives in this direction have
strengthened Azerbaijan’s role as a geo-economic center,” he
announced.
Garayev emphasized that the 22-year period of President Ilham
Aliyev’s leadership is a chronicle of Azerbaijan’s rise.
“During these years, Azerbaijani statehood has passed all tests,
determined its own path, and is confidently moving towards the
future. President Ilham Aliyev has not only restored historical
justice but also opened new horizons of development for his people.
Under his leadership, Azerbaijan is now not only a regional but
also a significant global political player.
Today, Azerbaijan’s name is associated with stability, strength,
and pride. All of this is the result of a visionary leader’s
policy, the support of the people, and national unity. Azerbaijan’s
22-year history of advancement once again proves that the future of
a state is determined by the vision of its leader and the unity of
its people. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev,
Azerbaijan is advancing confidently, decisively, and proudly on
this path,” the analyst added.
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