In the rapidly changing modern geopolitical situation, the role of regional cooperation formats is growing even more, and Azerbaijan is one of the examples of success in this direction. In its pursuit of harmonious development of its relations with neighboring and regional countries, including Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria and Romania, Azerbaijan focuses on mutually beneficial cooperation based on trust and mutual respect.
For the past 20 years, significant volumes of energy resources have been exported to European countries through the pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and the “Southern Gas Corridor” is gaining more and more international importance, as natural gas from the Caspian region flows through it to the energy markets of the EU. The reliability and continuity of energy supplies confirm the image of Azerbaijan as a reliable international partner striving for the development of interregional cooperation.
Azerbaijani state oil company SOCAR plays a significant role in the energy sector of a number of countries in the Balkan Peninsula and Southeast Europe. SOCAR projects ensure energy security and contribute to economic growth in these countries.
The development of connectivity and transport-logistics infrastructure is another strategic direction for official Baku. Baku International Airport remains the busiest in the region and is among only a few in the world certified with a 5-star rating, according to indicators such as amenities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping and staff service.
Thanks to its strategic geographical position, Azerbaijan plays a key role in the "East-West" international transport corridors. and "North-South", which ensure the fast and safe delivery of goods between Europe, China and India, turning Baku into one of the most important transport and logistics hubs in Eurasia.
Azerbaijan has the largest merchant fleet in the Caspian Sea. To meet the growing demand for international shipping, the port of Baku, as the main transport and logistics hub in the region, is currently expanding its capacity from the current 15 to 25 million tons of cargo turnover per year. The multimodal transport infrastructure of the Middle Corridor, which passes through the territory of Azerbaijan, connects the ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. In 2023, the volume of cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor increased by 86%.
Azerbaijan also consistently defends the idea of solving regional issues without the intervention of third powers. Such an approach allows to avoid additional sources of tension, contributes to the strengthening of trust, peace and stability in the region. The policy of good neighborliness is a priority direction in the foreign policy activity of Azerbaijan and is a pledge for the development and strengthening of cooperation with the countries of the Black Sea and Caspian regions.