Əli Hüseynli
Milli Məclisin deputatı
The official visit of the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni, to Azerbaijan on May 4 can be assessed as another important stage in the dynamic development of relations between the two countries. The meetings held during the visit, the discussions conducted, and the statements made to the press showed that cooperation between Baku and Rome has moved beyond the framework of traditional energy partnership and is acquiring a broader geopolitical and economic content.
President Ilham Aliyev, in his statement to the press regarding the outcome of the visit, emphasized that Azerbaijan–Italy relations have risen to the level of a strategic partnership, noting that these relations are built on long-term stability and mutual trust. It is worth noting that two declarations on strategic partnership were signed in 2014 and 2020.
The head of state stated that Italy is one of Azerbaijan’s main trading partners, and this cooperation is particularly evident in the energy sector. Last year, our trade turnover amounted to approximately 12 billion dollars. During that period, 9.5 billion cubic meters of the 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas exported by Azerbaijan went to the Italian market. In this context, against the backdrop of Azerbaijan’s growing role in Europe’s energy security, cooperation with Italy is of particular importance.
It is known that the Southern Gas Corridor project, which delivers Azerbaijani gas to Europe, is one of the main pillars of strategic cooperation between the two countries. The export of Azerbaijani gas specifically to the Italian market through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, an important part of this project, further strengthens the mutual interdependence and partnership relations between the countries. As President Ilham Aliyev noted, energy cooperation is of strategic importance not only in terms of economics but also in terms of political stability and security.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in meetings during the visit and in her statement to the press, assessed Azerbaijan as a reliable partner and stated that her country is a supporter of stability and development in the South Caucasus region. She also emphasized that Italy intends to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan not only in the energy sector but also in industry, transport, high technologies, and humanitarian areas.
One of the noteworthy points is the steps taken towards the diversification of economic relations. The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan has invested approximately 3 billion dollars in the Italian economy over the last few years. Currently, nearly 130 Italian companies are implementing many projects in Azerbaijan, including in the liberated Karabakh and East Zangezur regions. At the same time, the expansion of Azerbaijan’s export opportunities to the Italian market ensures the sustainable development of economic relations. This is of particular importance in terms of the development of the non-oil sector.
In addition, the development of cultural and humanitarian ties between the parties is also in the spotlight. Cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and tourism serves to strengthen mutual understanding between the peoples. Today, more than 500 students are studying at the Italy-Azerbaijan University, which opened in Baku last year. The mutual contact between Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage and Italy’s ancient civilization traditions adds a special color to these relations.
Against the background of current geopolitical realities, Azerbaijan–Italy relations are also of great importance in a broader regional and international context. In terms of Europe’s energy security, the development of transport corridors, and global economic cooperation, the partnership between Baku and Rome is strategic in nature. Azerbaijan plays an important role, especially in the development of the Middle Corridor and the strengthening of ties between Europe and Asia, which creates additional opportunities for Italy.
As a result, the content of Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Azerbaijan once again confirmed that Azerbaijan–Italy relations are developing on an upward trajectory and are being enriched with new content. These relations not only serve the national interests of the two countries but also play an important role as a platform for stability, security, and cooperation in the wider region.
Thus, the emerging new stage is leading the Azerbaijan–Italy partnership from a strategic level towards a model of multidimensional and sustainable cooperation, which promises more successful results in the near future.