DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/46/24-31
Ulkar Mammadzadeh
Baku State University
PhD in History
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2018-7389
ulkar_m23@hotmail.com
Relations With Regional States During the Heydar Aliyev Period
Abstract
During Heydar Aliyev's leadership of Azerbaijan (1993-2003), the country's foreign policy was shaped by a strategic balancing act between regional powers and global actors. Aliyev sought to assert Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, maintain independence from Russian and Iranian influence, and leverage its energy resources to strengthen its geopolitical position. Relations with Russia were complex, involving both cooperation and cautious independence. Ties with Turkey were particularly strong, rooted in shared cultural and strategic interests, especially in energy. Relations with Iran were marked by caution, as Azerbaijan navigated its connections with the West while managing regional sensitivities. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remained a key issue in relations with Armenia, while Georgia became a strategic partner in energy transit and geopolitical alignment. Azerbaijan also fostered ties with Central Asia and pursued closer relations with the West to secure energy exports and international support. Aliyev’s foreign policy effectively positioned Azerbaijan as a rising regional power, focused on economic growth, energy security, and maintaining a delicate balance in a complex regional environment.
Keywords: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Heydar Aliyev, nationwide leader, Caucasus