European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Tuesday, opening a two-day visit to the South Caucasus that underscored the European Union’s growing strategic interest in the region as it seeks to strengthen energy security, transport links and regional stability.
Baku is the first stop of von der Leyen’s regional tour before she travels to Armenia, with the European Commission describing the visit as part of sustained high-level engagement with partners across the South Caucasus.
At a joint press conference following their talks, the two leaders focused on the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the broader strategic partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan.
Von der Leyen described Azerbaijan as a key partner for the 27-member bloc, highlighting its role in supporting Europe’s energy security amid geopolitical uncertainty.
“In recent years, Azerbaijan has proven to be a reliable, trusted energy partner to the European Union. We have not forgotten that at a time when Russia weaponized energy in terms of gas for Europe, Azerbaijan stepped up. The Southern Gas Corridor indeed strengthened Europe’s energy security, and it is a remarkable success story,” she said in Baku on Wednesday.
