Strengthening ties with these states has been declared a priority in our foreign policy, and Azerbaijan has now assumed the chairmanship of this organization. On the other hand, Baku successfully conducted a series of international events during Energy Week. These events not only play a crucial role in the development of the energy sector in the region but also highlight Azerbaijan’s role in supplying energy resources to Europe. Thus, within just one week, Azerbaijan further solidified its commitment to an “energy” orientation towards the West, particularly Eastern Europe, and strengthened its relationships with Turkic states, which President Ilham Aliyev described as family in his inauguration speech.
At first glance, these events may seem unrelated, with Azerbaijan being the only common link. However, this is a misconception, as transportation and climate, two crucial topics for world leaders and agendas, connect them. It’s hard to determine which of these is more important. The integrity and access to transportation corridors, vital for uninterrupted use, concern most European countries. Here, Azerbaijan, alongside the Turkic world, is beginning to play a more significant role, especially in the Middle Corridor, which starts in China and targets Europe.
For Azerbaijan, climate preservation isn’t just about the upcoming COP29 in the fall but also involves energy projects related to both fossil fuels and green energy, implemented domestically and increasingly involving Central Asian states. This broad perspective links the concepts of “climate-energy” and the “Turkic world” with the recent events in Baku, despite TURKPA’s plenary session and Baku Energy Week being held on different platforms.
The success and significance of Energy Week are evident in simple statistics: about 300 companies from 37 countries participated in the events, with the exhibition featuring approximately 15% new participants. This not only boosts Azerbaijan’s global reputation as the organizer of Energy Week but also emphasizes its role as an energy transport hub, especially ahead of COP29.
Furthermore, the restoration of liberated territories, although seemingly unrelated to Energy Week, is also crucial. These territories are designated as “green” regions, meaning no fossil fuels will be used for electricity generation. Green energy will fully meet the demand, with excess energy redirected to other regions. Thus, the restoration of these territories is directly linked to climate preservation and energy. The involvement of companies from Turkic countries in economic and social projects there underscores this connection.
Energy, being a broad topic, saw significant statements during the week’s conferences and panel sessions. For example, Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), noted the insufficient speed of the global transition to green energy. Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR, highlighted the need for collective efforts for sustainability and decarbonization. Michael Hilmer, Vice President of Uniper, spoke about Europe’s goal to eliminate reliance on Russian fuels. These discussions touched on key aspects of global politics, impacting millions.
Notably, just before Energy Week, Baku witnessed the signing of an agreement between SOCAR and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), granting SOCAR a 3% stake in the SARB and Umm Lulu fields. SOCAR also met with Honeywell to discuss the construction of the Star refinery and modernization of the Heydar Aliyev refinery. These deals, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, underscore the significance of these developments.
Returning to the Turkic aspect of the week, President Aliyev’s meeting with TURKPA Secretary-General Mehmet Sureyya Eroglu and representatives of other Turkic states yielded strong statements about the future of TURKPA and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The Turkic world, with its vast geography and potential, can become a major power center in the emerging multipolar world. The Middle Corridor and increased freight transport are key projects involving all OTS member states. Additionally, the closer ties between Azerbaijan and Hungary, which has become a stronghold of the Turkic world in Europe, were emphasized.
President Aliyev also addressed the interference of some European countries in regional affairs. He stated, “We are here, we are not Europe. We do not seek to join the European family, and even if we did, we would not be accepted. We live here, we do not act on anyone’s orders, and we do not allow anyone to interfere in our affairs. If you do not bother me, I will not bother you. If you do, expect trouble.” This bold statement is both a challenge and a call for peace, reflecting the stance of the entire OTS against forces seeking to destabilize the region and hinder the development of this new political and socio-economic union.
Rauf Nasirov
