One of the most notable points in President Ilham Aliyev’s speech today was that Azerbaijan is now being recognized as a “middle power.” This is not a coincidental or merely rhetorical political statement.

Axar.az reports that political analyst Aynur Jamal made these remarks regarding President Ilham Aliyev’s speech at the May 25 meeting dedicated to agricultural issues.

The analyst emphasized that in recent years, the concept of the “middle power” has gained increasing importance in international relations theory and carries special significance in the context of new global realities.

She noted that Azerbaijan's inclusion among such states is particularly important, and explained that the term “middle power” reflects countries that are neither superpowers nor weak states, but still exert significant regional and sometimes global influence through diplomacy, economics, energy security, mediation roles, and international engagement.

According to her, these states typically include countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Australia, South Africa, Qatar, and the UAE, defined by factors such as regional influence, economic and energy capacity, independent foreign policy, diplomatic activity, and ability to host major international events.

She stated that Azerbaijan has already reached such a status through several key stages of development.

The first stage was the formation of a strong economic base, driven by Azerbaijan’s energy strategy since the late 1990s, which led to major projects such as Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan, TANAP, and TAP. These projects strengthened Azerbaijan’s role in European energy security.

The second stage was political stability and an independent foreign policy, balancing relations with Western countries, the Turkic world, and regional states, strengthening Azerbaijan’s image as a reliable partner.

The third and most important stage was the restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity. The 44-day war not only restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity but also changed the geopolitical map of the region, demonstrating the country’s ability to enforce UN Security Council resolutions through its own military capability.

She added that in international relations, “middle power” status is not defined only by economy and diplomacy but also by the ability to protect national interests when necessary.

She further noted that Baku has become an international dialogue platform, hosting major events such as the Non-Aligned Movement summit, Organization of Turkic States meetings, global energy forums, interfaith and intercultural dialogues, COP29, and WUF13.

According to her, Azerbaijan’s role as a bridge between East and West, as well as North and South, and its participation in projects such as the Middle Corridor and regional connectivity initiatives, further enhances its strategic importance.

She concluded that Azerbaijan is no longer merely a participant in international processes, but a country that helps set the agenda and shape discussions, reflecting the essence of a “middle power.”