Aliyev Hosts von der Leyen in Baku; EU Calls Azerbaijan Partner

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Baku on July 1, with the EU chief describing Azerbaijan as a strategic partner and praising the president's role on the regional peace agenda.

Meetings in Baku

Aliyev first held a one-on-one meeting with von der Leyen, after which the two leaders led an expanded session joined by their delegations. Von der Leyen characterized Azerbaijan as a "strategic partner of the European Union" and highlighted Aliyev's "leadership" on the regional peace agenda, describing the president as an initiator of that agenda. The talks brought together the Azerbaijani head of state and the European Union's most senior official for a wide-ranging exchange on relations between Baku and Brussels.

Peace agenda and trade

The two sides welcomed the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the launch of bilateral trade, and the transit through Azerbaijani territory of goods exported to Armenia from third countries. Each of those points touched on the practical steps that have followed the shift toward normalization in the South Caucasus. The discussions placed the Baku-Brussels relationship within the context of wider regional stability, where the normalization track with Armenia has become the central issue.

Toward a new agreement

Both sides agreed on the resumption of discussions toward a new comprehensive Azerbaijan-EU agreement. The meeting spanned trade, transit and the normalization process with Armenia, signaling renewed momentum in ties between Baku and Brussels. By reopening talks on a comprehensive agreement, the two sides set out to broaden a relationship that von der Leyen framed in terms of strategic partnership during her visit to the Azerbaijani capital.