At the Hudson Institute’s policy forum “The U.S. in the South Caucasus: Mapping New Strategic Opportunities,” moderated by scholar Mike Doran, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States Khazar Ibrahim outlined Baku’s vision for regional stability and its growing strategic partnership with Washington.
Speaking on the closing panel, Ibrahim said Azerbaijan today “stands strong and dynamic” – maintaining peace in the South Caucasus while deepening ties with the United States.
He described Azerbaijan’s diplomacy as rooted in consistency and credibility:
“Our biggest currency is trust. It’s not oil, it’s not gas, it’s the fact that countries and regions trust us.”
The ambassador highlighted Azerbaijan’s ability to navigate multiple regions – from Europe to the Middle East and Central Asia – through what he called “both straight and fuzzy logic.”
“When you are small in size but can punch above your weight,” he said, “you play on many chessboards – and always by the rules.”
Ibrahim credited President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership with guiding the country through historic transformations.
“My word is my signature,” he quoted the President as saying, adding that this principle defines both Azerbaijan’s statecraft and its national character.
Calling Azerbaijan “a nation that creates opportunities rather than waits for them,” Ibrahim said Baku’s foreign policy seeks to promote cooperation with neighbors and maintain true independence through pragmatic, rules-based engagement.
The event brought together regional experts, diplomats, and policy analysts to discuss new opportunities for U.S. engagement and strategic cooperation in the South Caucasus.
