Photo: Director of the Center for South Caucasus Studies Farhad Mammadov
Director of the Center for South Caucasus Studies Farhad Mammadov has dismissed speculation surrounding Azerbaijan’s absence from the recent NATO Summit in Ankara, arguing that it should not be interpreted as an indication of problems in Azerbaijani-Turkish relations.
Writing on his Telegram channel, Mammadov noted that every major event held in Türkiye naturally attracts significant attention in Azerbaijan and that there is a long-standing tradition of Azerbaijan participating in high-level events in the country as a special guest, even when it is not formally involved.
“That has always been the case… and it will continue to be so,” he wrote, stressing that Azerbaijan’s absence from the summit should not be regarded as extraordinary.
According to Mammadov, the agenda of the NATO Summit in Ankara did not include the participation of partner countries, with the sole exception of Ukraine. He said the meeting was primarily focused on demonstrating Alliance unity amid disagreements between European members and the United States, as well as differences among other NATO allies, while reaffirming support for Ukraine.
“Every effort and resource was directed toward preventing divisions within the Alliance,” he said, adding that the summit was devoted exclusively to NATO’s internal issues and the situation in Ukraine.
Mammadov explained that, unlike previous NATO gatherings, the summit did not include meetings dedicated to cooperation with partner countries outside the Alliance. As a result, issues such as NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, peacekeeping operations, and other areas of cooperation with partner states were not discussed.
“Azerbaijan has participated in NATO summits precisely within the framework of those areas of cooperation—and nothing beyond that. If those issues are not being discussed, then Azerbaijan’s participation is simply not necessary,” he wrote.
Mammadov also praised Türkiye for hosting the event, saying it had organized the summit successfully “both in terms of its format and its substance.”
He further pointed to another development that coincided with the summit, noting that President Ilham Aliyev received U.S. Senator Steve Daines in Baku during the same period. According to Mammadov, such visits are arranged well in advance and reflect the continued constructive dynamics in relations between Azerbaijan and the United States.