Expert: Security forms the basis of Ilham Aliyev’s rational foreign policy approach

The position voiced by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan regarding the possible deployment of Azerbaijani military personnel to Gaza is a clear expression of Baku’s security-oriented and rational approach to state governance in foreign policy,  Mehmet Emir Aksoy, an expert on international relations, told The Daily Baku.

According to the expert, this approach reflects a strategic line based not on emotional appeals, but on national interests and the security of citizens.

“President Ilham Aliyev’s statement that ‘every citizen of Azerbaijan is valuable to us’ clearly shows that the state places the protection of its human resources at the centre of foreign-policy decision-making. In the recent past, when Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were under threat, the country did not receive the support it expected from the international system. This experience has now become the key reference point for Baku in relation to conflict zones,” Mehmet Emir Aksoy stressed.

The expert noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s position on the Palestinian issue is balanced and multidimensional. “Within the frameworks of the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Azerbaijan consistently supports the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Embassy operating in Baku also continues its work thanks to the financial and diplomatic support provided by Azerbaijan. At the same time, the head of state clearly states that the problems of Arab countries should first and foremost be resolved by the Arab states themselves. This is an approach based on the principle of regional responsibility rather than symbolic military gestures,” he said.

Mehmet Emir Aksoy added that this rational line is also clearly visible in Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel. According to him, historical and cultural ties are complemented by cooperation in the fields of energy, technology, and security. “Baku’s foreign policy is far removed from ideological fluctuations. Azerbaijan pursues a well-calculated strategy based on its geopolitical position, the existing balance of power, and its long-term security priorities,” the expert noted.

In the expert’s opinion, this very approach is what distinguishes Ilham Aliyev from many leaders in the region. “He does not manage crises at the level of rhetoric but through strategies that produce real results. This leadership model — which correctly assesses risks and consciously avoids steps that exceed state capabilities — is one of the key reasons behind Azerbaijan’s diplomatic and strategic achievements in recent years,” Mehmet Emir Aksoy said.