Baku, September 4, 2025
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and commemorations in Beijing highlighted shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus, with Azerbaijan receiving prominent attention and Armenia signaling a more constructive stance.
Political analyst Rizvan Huseynov noted in his weekly commentary that President Ilham Aliyev was received in Beijing “with great pomp,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s presence was markedly less visible. According to Huseynov, such protocol details carry weight in Chinese diplomacy, which emphasizes “rituals and symbols.”
The high-level reception underscored China’s interest in Azerbaijan not only as a transit hub but also as a broader geopolitical partner, Huseynov said. He also pointed to the constructive behavior of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during the summit, suggesting that Washington-brokered understandings between Aliyev and Pashinyan are likely to continue.
Against this backdrop, Huseynov argued, Russia is gradually losing influence in the South Caucasus as well as in Central Asia, while regional projects — including the reopening of the Zangezur corridor — are gaining new momentum with backing from major powers.
