Category: Azer News

Belgium will develop its own military satellite system as part of efforts to strengthen its independent space capabilities, AzerNEWS reports.

For the first time, the country’s Ministry of Defense will allocate more than pound 200 million to develop an independent space infrastructure. Currently, the Belgian military relies on satellite imagery provided by France.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken told The Brussels Times that the government plans to deploy several dozen satellites, including 10 for military purposes. The satellite constellation is expected to be placed into orbit by 2030.

The initiative follows the launch of a major satellite manufacturing project by Belgian company Aerospacelab, which began construction of a production facility in 2024. The plant is designed to manufacture up to 500 satellites annually and is scheduled to begin operations in 2026.

Pursuant to the relevant order of the First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, a graduation ceremony for the Basic Diver Course was held in the Azerbaijan Navy, AzerNEWS reports.

The memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and the Martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland was honored with a minute of silence. The National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was then performed.

Speakers at the graduation ceremony emphasized that conducting such courses makes a significant contribution to enhancing the professional qualifications and combat readiness of personnel.

It was noted that throughout the course, participants acquired not only theoretical knowledge but also practical diving skills, including underwater technical operations, search procedures, the recovery of submerged objects, underwater hull inspections, and other diving tasks.

At the end of the ceremony, participants were awarded certificates, followed by a commemorative group photo.

More than 600,000 people in the United Kingdom are unable to work because of overweight and obesity-related health problems, AzerNEWS reports, citing The Telegraph.

The findings are based on a study conducted by researchers at the University of York, who analyzed data from more than 284,000 volunteers. The research drew on information from the UK Biobank, the country’s largest medical database.

According to the information, more than 15 million people in the UK are overweight, and around 4% of them are unable to continue working specifically because of obesity.

The study also found that men are more likely than women to leave the workforce due to excess weight.

Researchers warned that rising obesity rates could place an even greater financial burden on the UK economy. The report noted that employees diagnosed with obesity take twice as much sick leave as those with a healthy weight, highlighting the growing impact of obesity on productivity and the labor market.

The Government has announced pilot schemes in which the unemployed will be given weight-loss jabs to get more people back to work.

Researchers have previously found that obese workers are twice as likely to take time off sick as those of a healthy weight because of health problems arising from their size.

Germany’s influential political magazine Cicero has published an article titled “Gateway to Central Asia: Why Europe Is Rediscovering the South Caucasus,” highlighting the region’s growing strategic importance amid shifting geopolitical realities, AzerNEWS reports.

Written by Oliver Rolofs, the article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and rising tensions in the Middle East have fundamentally reshaped Europe’s approach to security, energy, and transport policy.

According to the author, Europe, which relied heavily on the United States for security, Russia for energy supplies, and China as a key economic market in the post-Cold War era, is increasingly seeking to establish itself as an independent geopolitical actor. Against this backdrop, the South Caucasus has evolved from what was once considered a geopolitical periphery into one of Europe’s key strategic regions.

The article argues that the war in Ukraine demonstrated that pipelines, ports, submarine communication cables, and transport corridors are not merely economic infrastructure but also powerful geopolitical instruments. At the same time, escalating tensions involving Iran and growing risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have further underscored the importance of energy and logistics security, enhancing the strategic relevance of the South Caucasus for Europe.

Rolofs notes that for many years the region was viewed primarily through the lens of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, overshadowing its broader geopolitical potential. However, the peace initiative launched between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington on August 8, 2025, has significantly changed perceptions in Brussels and other European capitals. Although issues such as border delimitation, mine clearance, and confidence-building measures remain unresolved, Europe increasingly views the South Caucasus as a bridge connecting the continent with Central Asia.

The article places particular emphasis on Azerbaijan’s expanding role in Europe’s energy security. It recalls that, following the signing of the EU-Azerbaijan Memorandum of Understanding in 2022, Azerbaijan has steadily increased natural gas exports to Europe. The country currently supplies around 13 billion cubic meters of gas annually to the European Union, compared with 8 billion cubic meters before 2022, with exports expected to reach at least 20 billion cubic meters by 2027. It also notes that Germany and Austria began receiving direct Azerbaijani gas supplies for the first time in 2026.

According to the publication, Azerbaijan now exports natural gas to 16 countries, including 10 EU member states, making it one of the cornerstones of Europe’s strategy to diversify energy supplies.

The author also highlights the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor, including the TANAP and TAP pipelines, which deliver Caspian energy resources to Europe without crossing Russian territory. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, these projects have become increasingly important in Europe’s efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.

Beyond energy, the article stresses Azerbaijan’s role as a key transit hub linking Europe with Central Asia. Rolofs stressed that as the northern route through Russia has become constrained by sanctions and war, while the route through Iran carries heightened geopolitical risks, the Middle Corridor has emerged as one of the most reliable and promising trade routes between Europe and Asia. The corridor connects Europe with the markets of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and China through Azerbaijan.

The article notes that the European Union now considers the Middle Corridor one of the flagship infrastructure projects under its Global Gateway strategy, with plans to deepen cooperation in energy, digital connectivity, critical raw materials, transport, and logistics.

Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, took part in the Peace Alliance Summit held in Luanda, Angola, on July 16-17 at the invitation of Miguel Ángel Moratinos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, AzerNEWS reports.

The summit was organized as part of the “Call for Peace, End of Wars and Respect for International Law” initiative.

According to the CMO’s press service, the opening ceremony featured speeches by Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. Speakers highlighted that Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade was the only religious leader participating in the summit.

During his visit, Pashazade held meetings with Moratinos, the presidents of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Prime Minister of Namibia, Angola’s foreign minister, the mayor of Gernika in Spain, and several other senior officials.

Addressing the opening of a thematic session on July 17, Allahshukur Pashazade praised the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for its efforts to promote peace and respect for international law. He also commended Moratinos for his contribution to strengthening dialogue among civilizations.

The Sheikh-ul-Islam highlighted Azerbaijan’s experience in promoting peace, multiculturalism, and interfaith dialogue, as well as the country’s close cooperation with the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He noted that President Ilham Aliyev’s efforts to advance the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process have received broad international recognition.

Pashazade stressed that all holy scriptures regard the killing of a single innocent person as a crime against all humanity. He underscored the importance of preserving the memory of the tragedies of Guernica, Srebrenica, and Khojaly, calling for ongoing conflicts to be resolved peacefully on the basis of international law and for stronger international cooperation to prevent future humanitarian disasters.

The thematic session continued with discussions on “The Role of Religious and Faith Leaders in Promoting Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence.”

Turkish security forces have detained 119 suspects with alleged links to the ISIS terrorist organization during a large-scale counterterrorism operation carried out across 30 provinces, AzerNEWS reports, citing Trkiye’s Ministry of Interior.

According to the ministry, the operation was conducted by the Turkish Gendarmerie in provinces including Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, Kocaeli, Konya, Mardin, Samsun, and Van.

The detainees are accused of membership in ISIS, spreading terrorist propaganda through social media, and financing the terrorist organization through individuals allegedly linked to ISIS and organizations posing as charities.

During the operation, security forces also seized a large number of documents and digital materials belonging to the terrorist group.

The latest raids follow a series of recent counterterrorism operations in Trkiye. In late June, a suspected ISIS member was killed in an armed confrontation with police south of Ankara, just two weeks before the NATO summit in the Turkish capital. Following that incident, Turkish authorities detained an additional 209 suspects accused of links to ISIS.

SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense over a potential multibillion-dollar agreement to provide data center capacity for running artificial intelligence models, AzerNEWS reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the proposed arrangement would allow SpaceX to supply the Pentagon with computing capacity worth up to several billion dollars. The negotiations are ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached.

If concluded, the deal would further strengthen cooperation between SpaceX and the Pentagon while expanding the company’s presence in the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market.

The report notes that SpaceX has previously signed similar agreements with Anthropic and Google. Sources also said the company is exploring ways to compete with AI infrastructure providers such as CoreWeave by offering customers computing power at more competitive prices.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is paying a working visit to Qatar, AzerNEWS reports, citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s post on X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hakan Fidan is expected to reaffirm Trkiye’s strong solidarity with Qatar following the recent attacks on the country and discuss the deepening strategic partnership between Ankara and Doha across a range of sectors.

The discussions are also expected to cover preparations for the 12th meeting of the Trkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee, which is scheduled to take place in Trkiye later this year under the co-chairmanship of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Fidan is expected to stress that recent regional developments have underscored the strategic importance of defense and military cooperation between the two countries. He is also likely to emphasize that regional challenges should be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy, and regional ownership, while calling for stronger joint efforts in this direction.

The talks are expected to address ways to strengthen cooperation on regional connectivity, which has become increasingly important for economic resilience and energy security.

In addition, the Turkish foreign minister is expected to present Ankara’s assessment of the latest developments in Gaza and the progress of the Gaza Peace Plan.

Fidan last visited Qatar on May 11-12.

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, attended the presentation of “Azerbaijani Carpets – From Tradition to Contemporary Art” exhibition organized at the Museum of Ethnography in Budapest, Hungary, AzerNEWS reports.

The exhibition, organized at the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, showcases rare historical carpets dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries, alongside traditional textiles, national costumes, jewellery, carpet sketches, and contemporary artworks.

Opening its doors on June 25, the exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the delicate floral and geometric ornaments of Garabagh, Shirvan, Baku and other historical regions, as well as the unique carpet weaving traditions distinguished by their high craftsmanship.

The exhibition features works and carpet sketches by People’s Artists Latif Karimov and Eldar Mikayilzade, as well as works reflecting contemporary artistic explorations by artist CHINGIZ, and the creativity of multidisciplinary artist Madina Gasimova, whose work beautifully intersects material, memory and visual structure.

The core concept of the exhibition is the transformation of traditional ornamental language into a modern artistic expression. Presenting historical carpets together with contemporary art highlights the timeless relevance, aesthetic power and cultural significance of Azerbaijani textile traditions.

The display of rare exhibits reflecting the art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving-one of the country’s most important artistic heritage traditions-will provide visitors with a comprehensive and memorable insight into this rich cultural legacy.

The exhibition, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Hungary, the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography, and the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, will run until July 26.

For more than three decades, one of Azerbaijan’s most important economic objectives has been reducing its dependence on hydrocarbons. Like many resource-rich nations, Azerbaijan has long exhibited the classic symptoms of the so-called “Dutch disease”-an economic phenomenon in which booming natural resource exports strengthen one sector while weakening the competitiveness of the rest of the economy. Diversifying both GDP and exports has therefore remained at the heart of the country’s long-term economic strategy.

The scale of that dependence was difficult to ignore. For years, hydrocarbons accounted for roughly half of Azerbaijan’s GDP and close to 90 percent of total exports. Such concentration made the country highly vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Every sharp decline in oil prices translated into pressure on public finances, foreign exchange earnings, and economic growth. Building a more balanced export structure was therefore not merely an economic ambition but a strategic necessity.

To be fair, Azerbaijan has made substantial progress in developing its non-oil economy over the past three decades. The numbers tell an impressive story. In 1994, the country’s total exports-including oil and gas-amounted to only around $300 million. By 2024, however, Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports alone had reached approximately $3.3 billion. In other words, exports outside the energy sector expanded more than tenfold over thirty years. Few would dispute that this represents a significant achievement.

Yet the broader picture remained more complicated. While non-oil exports were growing steadily, hydrocarbon exports expanded even faster for much of that period. Massive investments in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli oil fields, followed later by the Southern Gas Corridor and the Shah Deniz gas project, generated export revenues on a scale that the non-oil sector simply could not match. As a result, despite impressive absolute growth, the relative weight of non-oil exports often remained disappointingly small. There were even years when crude oil alone accounted for well over 90 percent of Azerbaijan’s export earnings.

The first meaningful shift became visible after 2020. Rather than relying overwhelmingly on crude oil, Azerbaijan’s export basket gradually became more diversified within the energy sector itself. Natural gas exports increased rapidly as deliveries to European markets expanded following the completion of major pipeline infrastructure. Consequently, the export structure evolved into a more balanced composition: roughly 45-50 percent crude oil, around 40-45 percent natural gas, and approximately 10 percent non-oil products. Although hydrocarbons still dominated, Azerbaijan was no longer dependent on a single commodity.

The figures released for the first half of 2026, however, suggest that an even more significant transformation may now be underway.

According to official trade statistics, oil and petroleum products accounted for only around 40-41 percent of total exports during the first six months of the year, while natural gas represented roughly 25 percent. Most remarkably, Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports exceeded $5.5 billion during the same period-the first time in the country’s history. Even more striking is the pace of growth. During the corresponding period of 2025, non-oil exports stood at approximately $1.8 billion. Within just one year, they have effectively tripled.

Naturally, such an extraordinary increase deserves closer examination before being interpreted as a permanent structural breakthrough.

The overwhelming driver behind this surge has been gold exports. According to official statistics, gold exports reached approximately $3.7 billion during the first half of 2026, accounting for roughly 22.5 percent of Azerbaijan’s total non-hydrocarbon exports. Although customs data does not explicitly identify the destination of these shipments, the available trade statistics provide a compelling clue. The United Kingdom emerged as Azerbaijan’s largest non-oil export market, importing approximately $3.45 billion worth of non-oil products during the first six months of the year.

Historically, Azerbaijan’s principal non-oil export destinations have been neighboring markets such as Russia, Trkiye, Georgia, and, for precious metals, Switzerland. Britain’s sudden emergence as the dominant destination strongly suggests that the overwhelming majority of these gold exports were shipped there, most likely to London, one of the world’s leading centers for precious metals trading and refining.

Whether this represents a temporary statistical anomaly or the beginning of a lasting trade relationship remains an open question. Gold exports are inherently volatile and can fluctuate significantly depending on global prices, mining output, and international market conditions.

Nevertheless, dismissing these figures as a statistical curiosity would also be a mistake. Even if gold accounts for much of this year’s spectacular increase, the broader trajectory remains encouraging. Azerbaijan has gradually expanded manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, chemicals, logistics, and other export-oriented industries over many years. The country’s transport infrastructure, strategic location along the Middle Corridor, and growing integration into regional supply chains continue to strengthen the competitiveness of its non-energy economy.

Looking further ahead, another potentially transformative opportunity is beginning to emerge. Azerbaijan’s ambitious renewable energy agenda, supported by major investments in solar and wind generation, aims not only to satisfy domestic demand but eventually to export green electricity to European markets through projects such as the Black Sea submarine cable. If these initiatives progress as planned, electricity could gradually become another significant export category alongside oil, gas, and precious metals.

No country escapes decades of resource dependence overnight. Yet the latest export statistics demonstrate that diversification is no longer merely a policy objective discussed in government strategies-it is becoming increasingly visible in the country’s trade data. Whether driven by gold today or green electricity tomorrow, every percentage point gained by non-oil exports strengthens Azerbaijan’s economic resilience and reduces its vulnerability to external commodity shocks.