President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Egypt on October 12 for a working visit to take part in the Middle East Peace Summit at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
According to political analyst Farhad Mammadov, head of the Center for South Caucasus Studies, the summit is a key element of President Trump’s new peace plan for Gaza and part of a broader effort to shape the future political architecture of the Middle East.
“The summit, co-organized by the leaders of the United States and Egypt, gathers heads of major Middle Eastern states, the U.S. President, the President of the European Council, the German Chancellor, and the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Mammadov said. “Israel’s leadership and representatives of Hamas are not attending.”
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He noted that the situation in Gaza has created “a need to lay the foundations of a new regional configuration,” with Washington seeking to rebuild trust among Arab states after a period of regional tension.
“The U.S. is effectively standing in for Israel and will defend its interests. Arab monarchies are not against this, but Israeli government actions have introduced an element of unpredictability – hence the importance of U.S. guarantees,” Mammadov explained.
Why Azerbaijan and Armenia Are at the Table
According to Mammadov, inviting both South Caucasus countries to the Cairo summit signals that Washington now sees Azerbaijan and Armenia as part of the extended Middle East framework.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan had already prepared for this level of participation:
Strategic alliance with Turkey, one of the region’s central players;
Close partnership with Israel, built on mutual pragmatism and trust;
Active engagement in Syria, including reconstruction and stability efforts welcomed by Washington;
Potential role as a venue for indirect dialogue between Israel and Syria or Turkey and Israel;
Credibility among Arab Gulf monarchies, where President Aliyev enjoys respect as a balanced and reliable interlocutor.
Armenia, meanwhile, “will look to find its niche,” Mammadov said, suggesting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attendance reflects Yerevan’s continued reliance on Washington’s goodwill.
“Pashinyan cannot refuse Trump’s invitation – this platform helps him reaffirm U.S. interest in Armenia and adds symbolic value to the relationship,” Mammadov noted.
Azerbaijan’s Multi-Layered Identity
Mammadov also referred to comments by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to President Aliyev, who recently outlined Azerbaijan’s participation in diverse geopolitical forums – the European Political Community, the Organization of Turkic States, and the CIS Summit.
“The circle now closes with the Peace Summit, where the criteria for participation are geography and religious affiliation. This reflects Azerbaijan’s multi-layered geopolitical identity – the ability to operate across multiple regions simultaneously,” Mammadov said.
He described Baku’s diplomatic strategy as one of constructive pragmatism, balancing complex regional dynamics while turning potential risks into opportunities.
“Azerbaijan accepts this challenge because remaining on the sidelines would be both impossible and dangerous,” he concluded. “The results of this engagement will continue to serve national interests for years – provided the country stays vigilant in minimizing risks and maximizing the opportunities it helps create.”
