Azerbaijan should be viewed as state with growing international influence, expert says

Azerbaijan should be viewed not just as a geopolitical player in Eurasia, but as a state with growing international influence that the world will have to reckon with in the coming years, co-founder of the New Eurasia Observatory (ONE) and expert on Central Asia and Russian foreign policy Michael Levystone said at the international conference "Security and Cooperation in the South Caucasus.

According to Report, Levystone highlighted several key factors contributing to the strengthening of Baku's role on the international arena. Among them, he noted Azerbaijan's military successes in the 2020 Patriotic War and the restoration of sovereignty in 2023, as well as the country's current foreign policy course.

According to him, Azerbaijan's strategy is based on three important directions. The first involves diversifying foreign policy partnerships through the development of ties with the European Union and the US, he added.

He named the expansion of the export base, including through renewable energy, as the second direction. The expert also noted Azerbaijan's ambitions in the agro-industrial complex, woodworking, steel, and chemical industries.

"Azerbaijan strives to reduce its dependence and the associated risks caused by the volatility of global oil and gas prices," Levystone said.

The expert named active multilateral diplomacy as the third factor. In this regard, he mentioned the holding of major international events in the country, including the COP29 climate conference in November 2024.

"All these factors establish Azerbaijan as a power - what is today called a middle power, whose influence goes far beyond its national borders and immediate interests. Therefore, Azerbaijan should be viewed as a geopolitical player not only in Eurasia but also as a state that the world will have to reckon with in the coming years," Levystone emphasized.