Ilham Aliyev: Architect of peace in the South-Caucasus

Ilham Aliyev: Architect of peace in the South-Caucasus

Ilham Aliyev is increasingly becoming a global leader in terms of both domestic and foreign policy.

A figure who has been able to write history, he seems to have engraved his name not only in the history of Azerbaijan, but also in that of the South Caucasus and the entire surrounding region. Since his accession to the presidency, Ilham Aliyev has established himself as a visionary leader, guiding Azerbaijan toward an era of stability, prosperity, and international recognition. Nevertheless, it is especially since his victory in the Karabakh war that he inscribed his name in history with golden letters. Over the presidency of Aliyev, the record of his actions reveals a profound and lasting transformation of the country. Since then, he has been called the leader who changed history.

The Great Commander

Aliyev is the great commander because he managed to rewrite history despite facing a whole lobby against him. During the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, many Western media outlets defended the occupier. Numerous social media platforms exerted psychological pressure on Azerbaijanis. Despite this, in 44 days he regained the entirety of his territories occupied by Armenia and was able to rewrite history.

The “Great Return” program (2022–2026) embodies the president’s determination to rebuild the liberated territories. Modern infrastructure, airports, roads, and power plants are being constructed—symbols of a promising future for these long-suffering regions.

The retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh was not only a victory over an opposing camp, it was a victory over an entire lobbying network spreading disinformation against Azerbaijan. Seizing control of Nagorno-Karabakh had long been a goal for Ilham Aliyev. His father had prepared him to wage this campaign, and from the very beginning of his presidency, Ilham Aliyev waited for the ideal moment to reclaim the lands occupied by Armenia.

Aliyev succeeded in regaining the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia in exactly 44 days. The 44-day Second Karabakh War in 2020 became a defining moment—over 300 settlements were liberated from occupation. This was mainly due to the investments he had made in the army. This year, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are 107 years old.

Azerbaijan’s triumph in the 44-day Patriotic War is an extraordinary exception. Every strategic objective was achieved. Every occupied region was liberated.

Indeed, the modernization of the army has been a constant priority for Ilham Aliyev. The military budget was increased fifteenfold, and more than 20 defense factories were created. These efforts culminated in victory in the Second Karabakh War in 2020, enabling Azerbaijan to restore its territorial integrity.

Azerbaijan focused on rebuilding its economy and undertook rapid and comprehensive efforts to strengthen its military. Defense development accelerated, with particular emphasis on improving logistical and technical capabilities, boosting troop morale, and enhancing combat readiness according to news.az.

On May 22, 1998, President Heydar Aliyev issued a decree officially recognizing June 26 as Armed Forces Day. The following year, another milestone was achieved with the establishment of a military academy to support advanced officer training.

President Ilham Aliyev, upon assuming office, continued and expanded upon the strategic vision laid out by the national leader. Azerbaijan’s growing economic capacity enabled the modernization of its armed forces, the procurement of advanced weaponry, and the forging of defense partnerships with NATO and other countries. Significant attention has been devoted to developing military infrastructure and improving combat training.

The modernization of the Armed Forces remains one of the core priorities of President Ilham Aliyev’s national policy.

Heybatov wrote for news.az that “Azerbaijan’s military superiority was evident not only in terms of firepower and strategy, but also in discipline, morale, and organizational effectiveness. The enemy’s capitulation was the result of Azerbaijani courage, sound leadership, and strategic foresight.”

Today, the modern Azerbaijani Army meets the highest standards, and it is thanks to Ilham Aliyev. It is also important to highlight that, by order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a new Special Forces Commando unit was established, and in 2022, the National Defense University was created to improve military education management, according to Mazahir Afandiyev, member of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Today, Azerbaijani technologies are not only showcased at international exhibitions such as IDEX and IDEF, but are increasingly integrated into the doctrine of its own Armed Forces. The development of UAVs, surveillance systems, and smart ammunition is now occurring domestically.

Since 2020, the Ministry of Defense has pushed forward an ambitious wave of reforms, focusing on:

• Modernized training and doctrine aligned with NATO standards
   
• Investment in artificial intelligence, command-and-control systems, and logistics automation
   
• Expanded cooperation with Türkiye, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries
   
• A reformed mobilization system, enabling rapid deployment of reserves with digital tools
   

In today’s complex geopolitical environment, Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces are not just defenders of the homeland—they are guarantors of regional stability, wrote Novruz, A. (2025, June 26).

An Architect of Peace

It was Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev who, shortly after securing a decisive military success in 2020, proposed a roadmap for peace and normalization. Over the last five years, the peace process—slowly, with some setbacks and interruptions—progressed along the very roadmap Azerbaijan had already suggested in 2020.

In short, although he was largely advantaged over Armenia and stood as the power of the South Caucasus, he was the first to propose peace in order to establish stability in the region.

When peace was finally on the table between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington, it could be emphasized that it was thanks to the will of Pashinyan but above all to Aliyev, since he was the victor of the last war. The fact that the victor no longer wanted tensions in the region, but sought the establishment of peace, shows that he embraces the role of being a Peacemaker. The both sides signed a joint declaration emphasizing the need to continue efforts toward the signing and final ratification of the agreement. Azerbaijan’s role in securing vital corridors, including the Middle Corridor connecting Central Asia to Europe, has made the country indispensable in a shifting Eurasian balance.

“Security here is not just about guns and tanks—it’s about keeping trade flowing, borders stable, and populations safe,” wrote Novruz, A. (2025, June 26).

Moreover, in Washington, a joint declaration was signed for the creation of a corridor crossing Armenia to connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan enclave, a corridor named “TRIPP.” This project, long desired by Azerbaijan, must cross the Syunik province. Under the aegis of negotiations overseen by Donald Trump, this transit corridor is to be renamed “TRIPP” (the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” in English).

“Through commercial means, this measure will unblock the region and prevent new hostilities,” according to Reuters and the French newspaper Le Parisien (2025, August 9).

This peace deal could transform the South Caucasus, an energy-producing region, noted Reuters.

Azerbaijan had always supported the development of this corridor, but there had been opposition from Armenia. Since Pashinyan opted for rapprochement with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, the two countries no longer oppose each other but are advancing side by side for the development of the Middle Corridor.

In this issue, Aliyev’s foresight in championing corridors of connectivity—first the Middle Corridor and now Zangezur—highlights his role not only as a national leader but also as a regional visionary, wrote Akram for EUREFLECT.

An Architect of Economic Development

Azerbaijan is moving toward its goal of becoming a high-income country. Azerbaijan’s economy grew strongly in 2024, driven by the non-oil sector and public investment, says the latest edition of a flagship economic report by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Real GDP expanded by 4.1 percent in 2024, up from 1.4 percent in 2023, with non-oil growth reaching 6.2 percent compared with 3.7 percent in 2023. The main non-oil contributors to growth were the construction, ICT, transportation, and tourism sectors, according to the article by EU Neighbours East (May 16, 2025).

Azerbaijan’s economy is characterized by its transition from a primarily hydrocarbon-dependent model to a more diversified and sustainable one.

We can read on the Harvard University website that:

“Azerbaijan is an upper-middle income country that implemented a large number of socio-economic reforms and ensured the strengthening and modernization of the national economy” (article written by Musayeva, S.).

From the beginning of his presidency, Ilham Aliyev launched the first regional development program in 2004, aiming to reduce inequalities between Baku and the other regions. This initiative laid the foundations for sustained economic growth, with more than 2 million jobs created, industrial diversification, and a dramatic reduction in poverty.

Under his leadership, Azerbaijan’s GDP rose from $7.3 billion to $78.7 billion, and foreign exchange reserves were multiplied by 47. The average salary increased more than tenfold, reaching nearly $500 in 2022.

President Aliyev positioned Azerbaijan as a pillar of European energy security through the Southern Gas Corridor project, including the TANAP and TAP pipelines. This ambitious project allowed Azerbaijan to become a key supplier of natural gas to Europe, strengthening its geopolitical weight.

In addition, economic diversification is supported by the increase in the number of tourists arriving in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s tourism sector witnessed incredible expansion in 2024. In that year, Azerbaijan solidified its position as a top tourist destination in the region. The 39.5% growth in spending by foreign tourists reflects the country’s growing appeal, both as a cultural hub and a leisure destination, noted travelandtourworld.com.

This year, the sector is also expected to support 472,000 jobs, representing nearly 10% of total national employment, according to new data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

On April 9, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected Azerbaijan’s economic growth at 3.4% in 2025 and 3.3% in 2026. According to the ADB, Azerbaijan’s GDP growth over 2025–2026 is expected to average 3.35%.

A Strong and Respected Diplomacy

Under his leadership, Azerbaijan obtained a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2011, with 155 votes, according to United Nations News (October 24, 2011). The Security Council is the powerhouse of the United Nations, with the ability to impose sanctions and dispatch peacekeeping forces, according to Reuters (October 24, 2011). Azerbaijan also assumed a month-long presidency at the UN Security Council.

In 2019, the country assumed the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement, reflecting its commitment to a balanced and multipolar world order.

Today, Azerbaijan, completely independent, is becoming a respected regional power that commands respect. Aliyev is exemplary in the way he also protects the interests of Azerbaijanis in the diaspora.

For example, Ilham Aliyev did not go to Moscow to attend the Victory Day Parade on May 9, 2025. Baku no longer tolerates an imperial tone coming from Russia. Azerbaijan has a clear stance toward Russia: the country does not tolerate its human rights violations and its condescending attitude. Under Aliyev, Azerbaijan asserts itself against Russia.

Azerbaijan is making it clear: the era of condescending tolerance toward the “big brother” is over. Today, Baku is an independent player with a strong stance and a sovereign foreign policy.

This includes its support for Ukraine and its rapprochement with the West. Azerbaijan is a reliable ally both for Central Asian countries and for the European Union, the United States, and Türkiye.

The Uzbek president declared that:

“Under the patronage of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, together with the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, is organizing the 33rd high-level meeting from August 18 to 20.”

Thus, Azerbaijan, together with its brotherly Central Asian countries—especially Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan—will play the role of a bridge between West and East, between Europe and Asia.

That is why Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Kazakhstan is expected in October and probably during the same month to Turkmenistan.

Under Aliyev, Azerbaijan is also moving closer to the EU. First, the European Parliament welcomed progress toward peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Secondly, the EU and Azerbaijan are becoming very close economic partners:

• The EU is Azerbaijan’s main trading partner, accounting for around 41.2% of Azerbaijan’s total trade.
   
• The EU continues to be Azerbaijan’s biggest export market, with a 63.3% share of Azerbaijan’s exports and a 13.2% share of Azerbaijan’s imports.
   
• EU imports from Azerbaijan chiefly consist of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, and chemicals and related products, according to the European Commission.
   

Conclusion

In summary, Aliyev’s presidency is crowned by a historic victory, the complete restoration of our sovereignty, and the revival of free Garabagh and free Eastern Zangezur.

In twenty years, Ilham Aliyev has transformed Azerbaijan into a regional power, respected on the international stage, endowed with a dynamic economy and a modern army. His leadership embodies resilience, strategic vision, and commitment to national sovereignty.

The Azerbaijani people can look to the future with confidence, guided by a president who has succeeded in turning history into reality.

Aliyev has transformed the republic—once considered a remote corner of the Soviet Union—into a prosperous energy supplier for Europe, hosting Formula 1 races, UEFA football matches, and the Eurovision Song Contest.

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