Ilham Aliyev - architect of peace in the South Caucasus

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is becoming a world leader in both domestic and foreign policy. He has inscribed his name not only in the history of Azerbaijan but also of the entire South Caucasus and the surrounding region.

As Report informs, this is stated in an article by international journalist and expert on Central Asia and the South Caucasus Derya Soysal for EU Reporter.

Soysal notes that since taking office as president, Ilham Aliyev has established himself as a visionary leader, guiding Azerbaijan to an era of stability, prosperity, and international recognition. However, it was after the victory in the 2020 Karabakh War that he inscribed his name in history in golden letters. Since then, he has been called a leader who changed the history of the region.

"Aliyev is a great commander-in-chief because he managed to rewrite history despite an entire lobby opposing him. During the occupation of Karabakh, many Western media defended the occupier. Despite this, in 44 days Azerbaijan reclaimed all its territories occupied by Armenia and was able to rewrite history," the author notes.

According to her, the "Great Return" program also embodies the president's determination to restore the liberated territories. Modern infrastructure, airports, roads, and power plants are being built - symbols of a promising future for regions that have long been under occupation.

The return of Karabakh was not only a military victory, it was a victory over an entire network of lobbyists spreading disinformation against Azerbaijan, Soysal noted.

The author also recalled that it was the President of Azerbaijan who, shortly after the complete liberation of the lands from occupation, proposed a roadmap for peace and normalization of relations with Armenia.

"Over the past five years, the peace process - slowly, with some failures and interruptions - has progressed along the very roadmap proposed by Azerbaijan. Although Ilham Aliyev had a significant advantage over Armenia and acted as the power of the South Caucasus, he was the first to offer peace to establish stability in the region," Soysal stated.

According to the expert, the fact that the victor no longer wanted tension in the region but sought to establish peace shows that he accepts the role of peacemaker. In addition, Azerbaijan's role in providing vital transport routes, including the Middle Corridor connecting Central Asia with Europe, has made the country indispensable in the changing Eurasian balance.

Speaking about economic successes, Derya Soysal notes that Azerbaijan is confidently moving toward its goal of joining the ranks of high-income countries. Azerbaijan's economy is characterized by a transition from a predominantly hydrocarbon-dependent model to a more diversified and sustainable one.

"Ilham Aliyev launched the first regional development program in 2004, aimed at reducing inequality between Baku and other regions. This initiative laid the foundations for sustainable economic growth. As a result, during his leadership, Azerbaijan's GDP grew from $7.3 billion to $78.7 billion, and the country's foreign exchange reserves increased 47 times," the author noted.

Soysal recalled that Aliyev has positioned Azerbaijan as a pillar of European energy security through the Southern Gas Corridor project, including the TANAP and TAP pipelines. This ambitious project has allowed Azerbaijan to become one of the key suppliers of natural gas to Europe, strengthening its geopolitical weight.

In addition, economic diversification is supported by an increase in the number of tourists arriving in Azerbaijan. "Azerbaijan's tourism sector showed growth in 2024. That year, Azerbaijan strengthened its position as a leading tourist destination in the region," the journalist notes.