Meloni's visit to Azerbaijan: what messages did Europe receive?

New contours are emerging on the geopolitical map of the South Caucasus. This time, the line was drawn in Baku - with important signals about the deepening of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy.

This is stated in a video material by Baku TV.

The visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Azerbaijan went beyond the usual diplomatic protocol and carried special political weight, because she arrived in Baku immediately after completing her program in Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev, particularly emphasizing this detail, assessed it as an indicator of respect for Azerbaijan and the depth of the relationship.

The strategic partnership between the two countries, which has been forming over many years, is today entering a new phase. Energy, defense industry, investments, education, and regional security - in short, the agenda of Baku and Rome is quite extensive.

The fact that Azerbaijan is one of Italy's main energy partners constitutes the economic pillar of the relationship. Last year alone, trade turnover between the parties amounted to approximately 12 billion dollars. Azerbaijan ranks second in both oil and gas supplies to Italy.

President Ilham Aliyev stated that one of the main topics of the meeting was the expansion of energy cooperation.

Today, energy, beyond economic interest, has also become a geopolitical instrument. Especially during a period when the issue of Europe's energy security is a priority, Azerbaijan's role for Italy is increasing even further.

Meloni also openly acknowledged this. She stated that after the start of the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan's energy resources became a determining factor in Italy's energy security.

However, the Baku-Rome cooperation is not measured solely by pipelines. Defense industry, aerospace technologies, maritime security, infrastructure protection, and joint projects in third countries are new areas on the agenda.

Meloni expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its assistance in evacuating Italian citizens from Iran, which underscores not only interests but also mutual trust between the countries. Perhaps the most important message of this visit lies precisely in this. In the context of a changing international environment, Baku and Rome have chosen a stable course. Azerbaijani-Italian relations are not simply a partnership; these relations are turning into a long-term strategic line in Eurasian geopolitics.