Azerbaijan's Foreign Policy Architecture: Regional and Global Geopolitical Weight

Abstract

 This article analyzes Azerbaijan’s foreign policy architecture in a regional and global geopolitical context. Azerbaijan, thanks to its rich energy resources and strategic location, has emerged as a regional power in the South Caucasus, while also increasing its international influence through multifaceted diplomacy and balancing policy. The article emphasizes the principles of sovereignty, multipolarity, and regional cooperation, based on the country’s 2018 and 2022 foreign policy concepts. Azerbaijan’s relations with its neighbors  Armenia, Georgia, as well as regional powers  Turkey, Iran, and Russia  are analyzed in accordance with modern geopolitical dynamics. At the same time, the country’s growing role in global platforms such as the European Union, the United States, China, and the Non-Aligned Movement is focused on. Energy and transport projects (TANAP, TAP, Central Corridor, North–South and East–West routes) ensure Azerbaijan’s transformation into a major transit country in regional integration and global trade.

The article also discusses post-war diplomatic opportunities and risks, the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, and Azerbaijan's multifaceted and balanced foreign policy strategy in the global power competition. As a result, Azerbaijan's transformation from a regional power to a global actor, its strategic stability, and its opportunities for flexible diplomatic maneuvers are emphasized. The importance of sustainable peace initiatives, partnerships, and active participation in international organizations in the future comes to the fore.