BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 6. The meeting between
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Vice-President of the
European Commission Kaja Kallas should be assessed not only as a
protocol-based diplomatic contact, but also in a broader
geopolitical and economic context, political analyst Azer Garayev
told Trend.
He said that Baku strengthens its position on Europe's energy
map.
According to him, this meeting clearly reveals the directions in
which Azerbaijan-European Union (EU) relations are developing at
the current stage and the strategic priorities of the parties.
"First of all, the energy issue remains the main pillar of these
relations. Azerbaijan's growing role in Europe's energy security
has come to the fore, especially in recent years. Against the
backdrop of the EU's shift to alternative energy sources after the
Russia-Ukraine war, Azerbaijan has strengthened its position as a
reliable supplier.
The delivery of Azerbaijani gas to major economies such as
Germany and Austria shows that the geography of this cooperation is
expanding and is now moving towards deeper integration. This means
that Baku is not only an energy exporter, but also one of Europe's
strategic energy partners," the analyst explained.
Garayev noted that, in addition, areas such as digital
transformation, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy
discussed at the meeting indicate that cooperation has entered a
new stage.
"These directions are not accidental. The EU strives for global
leadership in the field of green energy and the digital economy,
while Azerbaijan intends to diversify its economy and reduce its
dependence on oil and gas. The coincidence of these interests
creates a serious basis for long-term and sustainable cooperation
between the parties. Renewable energy projects in particular
strengthen the possibility of Azerbaijan becoming a country
exporting green energy to Europe in the future," he also said.
The analyst pointed out that political and security issues also
form an important part of this meeting.
"The negotiations aimed at normalizing Azerbaijani-Armenian
relations and Azerbaijan's promotion of a peace agenda are being
closely monitored by the EU. In this context, the processes taking
place within the framework of the European Political Community
Summit and the participation of President Ilham Aliyev via video
link indicate that Azerbaijan is playing an active role in regional
diplomacy.
Azerbaijan's unilateral lifting of transit restrictions, in
addition to opening up new opportunities for economic cooperation,
can also be considered an important step in terms of
confidence-building," he clarified.
Garayev emphasized that, on the other hand, the EU's support for
demining activities in Azerbaijan is of particular importance from
a humanitarian and security perspective.
"Such support is essential for ensuring security in the
territories liberated after the war, the return of internally
displaced persons, and the restoration of infrastructure. The
mention of the TRIPP project acts as part of a broader strategy
aimed at developing transport and logistics links in the region,"
he added.
