Reconsidering Azerbaijan’s Foreign Policy on the 25th Anniversary of Restored Independence

Abstract

2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the restoration of Azerbaijan’s state independence. Able to reinstate independence twice in the past century- in 1918 and 1991- Azerbaijan carries on its ancient and prolific tradition of statehood. This also means twice ridding itself of occupation in a single century and makes state sovereignty the greatest accomplishment and asset for the country. Throughout a 25 year journey under such complicated circumstances, Azerbaijan has gone from being a country with a stagnant economy to becoming the leader nation in the South Caucasus. This nation has become a reliable energy security partner, and has evolved from being a recipient of international aid to a donor country. Initially, an average member of the international community, Azerbaijan eventually reached the level of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 20122013 . This article reviews the evolution of the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan over the last 25 years