President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan will never become an arena of geopolitical confrontation and will instead remain a space for cooperation, as he received a delegation of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce led by Senior Vice President Khush Choksi. The remarks were reported by Azerbaijani and international English-language outlets covering the meeting.
Aliyev noted that despite complicated relations between some of Azerbaijan’s partner countries, Baku pursues a foreign policy based on openness and pragmatic cooperation. The visit of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce delegation took place on the eve of the expected visit of the U.S. Vice President, which, according to observers, signals a new phase in Azerbaijan–U.S. relations.
Addressing the economic situation, the president highlighted Azerbaijan’s macroeconomic stability. External public debt stands at about 6.1% of GDP, the poverty rate is close to 5%, and the country’s sovereign credit rating has been upgraded to investment grade. He added that in January 2026, growth in the non-oil and gas sector approached 8%, underscoring the progress of economic diversification.
In the energy sector, Aliyev pointed to more than three decades of cooperation with BP without disputes or litigation. He said the partnership is now expanding into renewable energy, including solar projects, decarbonization initiatives, and plans to increase gas production. By 2032, Azerbaijan aims to add 7–8 gigawatts of new solar and wind capacity.
The president also emphasized opportunities in business, technology, and infrastructure. He highlighted the growing tourism and hospitality sector, ongoing projects in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and data centers, and continued cooperation with U.S. companies such as Visa. Infrastructure modernization remains a priority, including upgrades to ports and railways, construction of a new railway line linked to the Middle Corridor, plans for an energy cable across the Black Sea, and implementation of the U.S.-backed TRIPP initiative.
During the meeting, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce invited President Aliyev to Washington for an expanded business forum, citing strong interest from American companies in expanding their presence and investments in Azerbaijan.
