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Farid Shafiyev: Azerbaijan has further strengthened its position as a middle power

24 June 2026 10:33 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan has further strengthened its position as a “middle power” thanks to the political, military, and economic achievements it has attained in recent years, said Farid Shafiyev, Chairman of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), at a conference titled “Azerbaijan as a Middle Power: Foreign Policy, Regional Influence and Global Participation.”

According to him, this status demonstrates that Azerbaijan’s influence has increased not only in the region but also across a wider geography.

“The concept of a ‘middle power’ encompasses military potential, economic capabilities, diplomatic influence, soft power, and other factors. Azerbaijan’s full restoration of its territorial integrity has created conditions for a clearer confirmation of this status. Today, Azerbaijan is implementing various initiatives and projects not only within the country but also beyond the region. This shows that the country’s potential extends beyond the borders of the South Caucasus,” Farid Shafiyev said.

The AIR Center Chairman noted that the main purpose of the conference is to discuss Azerbaijan’s growing role in the international system, present the results of research conducted in this area, and exchange views on new proposals.

Guljahan Mammadova

Azerbaijan Farid Shafiyev AIR Center Center of Analysis of International Relations middle power foreign policy regional influence global participation South Caucasus diplomacy territorial integrity international relations conference soft power geopolitical influence