Category: Azer News

Training within the “Power of Unity – 2026” joint military exercise, conducted in the Republic of Azerbaijan, are continuing successfully.

Pursuant to the exercise plan, practical tasks are being carried out under various training and combat scenarios, involving personnel, weapons and military equipment, as well as aviation assets.

The aviation assets perform professional manoeuvres at various altitudes along designated routes, conducting strikes against simulated enemy air targets, radar and surface-to-air missile systems, military equipment, and the ground positions of terrorists.

The exercises are aimed at enhancing pilots’ practical skills, ensuring the coordinated operation of aviation assets in conjunction with personnel, and assessing their ability to accomplish the assigned tasks under complex aerial and terrain conditions.

Baku has hosted the “Living Culture – Baku Cultural Awareness Festival”, bringing together discussions, theatre and cinema around Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.

The festival was organized with financial support from the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations and through a joint initiative involving the State Tourism Agency, the Surakhani District Executive Authority and the “Qeyd-Social Awareness” Public Union.

The event opened with a minute of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for Azerbaijan’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, followed by the national anthem.

Speakers included Surakhani District Executive Authority head Adil Aliyev, Murad Agabayli, chairman of the Board of the Heritage Management Center, Aysel Tahirova, secretary general of the “Qeyd-Social Awareness” Public Union, and Members of Parliament Ulviyya Hamzayeva, Rizvan Nabiyev, Rovshan Muradov, Arzuxan Alizade and Vugar Iskandarov.

The speakers discussed the importance of protecting and promoting Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage, passing national and cultural values on to younger generations, expanding public awareness and supporting civil society projects in the cultural sphere.

A panel discussion was also held on culture and heritage. Participants exchanged views on efforts to expand public awareness, preserve heritage sites and traditions, and make cultural heritage more accessible to the wider public.

The programme also included a performance of the children’s play “The Magic Mirror” by the Baku Children’s and Youth Theatre. The production was aimed at encouraging children’s interest in theatre while contributing to their cultural and aesthetic development.

The festival concluded with an open-air screening of “Where Is Ahmad?”, one of the classics of Azerbaijani cinema, giving participants an opportunity to watch the well-known film in an outdoor setting.

The “Living Culture – Baku Cultural Awareness Festival” focused on different aspects of Azerbaijan’s culture and heritage, combining educational activities with artistic programmes. The event also provided a setting for cooperation between state institutions and civil society organizations on cultural awareness initiatives.

The US government has asked the EU’s General Court to allow it to intervene in Elon Musk and X’s legal challenge against a pound 120 million fine imposed by the European Commission.

The European Commission fined X in December 2025 for violating transparency requirements under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The regulator cited the platform’s blue verification badge system, a lack of transparency in its advertising repository and restrictions on researchers’ access to public data.

The US Department of Justice filed an application supporting X and Musk’s efforts to overturn the decision. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate said the Commission had ‘inappropriately attempted’ to extend its regulatory authority to American companies beyond its jurisdiction. The US government argues that the case could have broader implications for US-based digital companies operating in Europe.

The European Commission, meanwhile, has defended its decision, saying the fine was based on violations affecting users in the EU. The pound 120 million penalty was the Commission’s first non-compliance decision under the DSA.

The dispute comes amid broader tensions over how far European digital regulations can reach companies headquartered outside the EU. In July 2026, the Commission accepted an action plan from X aimed at improving its advertising database and providing researchers with better access to public data.

The US intervention could therefore turn the case into a broader legal test over the territorial reach of EU digital regulations and their impact on major American technology companies.

Sebastian Montoya has crashed out of the Formula 2 feature race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

The PREMA driver’s car hit a safety barrier during the race. The car was subsequently removed from the track, forcing the Colombian driver to retire from the race.

The incident came during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, which is marking 10 years of Formula 1 racing in Baku. The Baku City Circuit first hosted Formula 1 in 2016, when the event was held as the European Grand Prix, before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the following year.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is being held from September 24 to 26, with the Formula 1 race scheduled for September 26.

Azerbaijan’s National Development Strategy through 2030 envisages further economic diversification driven by the private sector, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said.

Speaking at the second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku on Friday, Jabbarov said industrial production, services and investment in human capital would be among the strategy’s key priorities.

‘Further diversification of the national economy should be led by the private sector. Priority should be given to areas such as the development of industrial production and services, while greater attention should also be paid to human capital and investment in people so that they are prepared for the changes taking place,’ Jabbarov said.

He noted that the energy transition and artificial intelligence would play an important role in implementing the strategy, including by increasing economic productivity and improving the delivery of public services.

According to the minister, ensuring access to long-term financing and developing capital markets will be another key priority through 2030.

‘Regional cooperation is of great importance because a significant part of the strategy is export-oriented. We cannot allow ourselves to be limited by our domestic market,’ Jabbarov said.

He highlighted the particular importance of the Middle Corridor, emphasizing that its role extends beyond the transportation and transit of goods.

‘The Middle Corridor is not merely a means or route for transporting or transiting goods. It is also about joint processing, establishing hubs, creating a favorable environment, developing a regional financial center and financial resources, as well as joint investments,’ he said.

Jabbarov said these areas constitute part of the objectives of Azerbaijan’s National Development Strategy through 2030.

The second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum is currently being held in Baku.

The two-day event is organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), with European House-Ambrosetti as its strategic partner.

This year’s forum, titled ‘Restoring Trust in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar of Global Connectivity and Investment Stability,’ brings together leading global investors, government officials, international financial institutions and business leaders.

Azerbaijan and Antigua and Barbuda have signed agreements providing for mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, official and ordinary passports, as the two countries seek to deepen bilateral ties beyond multilateral cooperation.

The agreements were signed by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs Everly Paul Chet Greene on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During their meeting, Bayramov and Greene discussed the current state and prospects of Azerbaijan-Antigua and Barbuda relations, with particular attention to strengthening political dialogue and increasing mutual visits.

The two sides also discussed expanding bilateral cooperation beyond multilateral platforms, including the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

The ministers signed an Agreement on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official/service passports, as well as a separate Agreement on mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of ordinary passports, as reported in a post on X shared by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

The agreements are expected to facilitate official travel and people-to-people contacts while supporting tourism and broader bilateral exchanges.

Antigua and Barbuda already lists Azerbaijan among the countries whose citizens do not require a visa for entry, according to the Caribbean country’s official immigration information.

The signing comes as Azerbaijan uses the UN General Assembly to advance a series of bilateral agreements and diplomatic contacts. On 23 September, for example, Bayramov also signed a visa exemption agreement with Bangladesh covering diplomatic, official and service passport holders.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan has opened new opportunities for the South Caucasus.

In his address, Pashinyan said the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, alongside the expansion of regional connectivity, could enable not only Armenia but the entire South Caucasus to become a ‘Crossroads of Peace.’

He also discussed the implementation of the August 8, 2025, Washington Peace Summit agreements, Armenia’s planned participation in the TRIPP Development Company, the restoration of railway links, relations with Azerbaijan and Trkiye, Armenia’s foreign policy, and unresolved issues stemming from the conflict.

Pashinyan also said Armenia would continue developing relations with its neighbors and international partners, while emphasizing that the signing and ratification of the peace agreement with Azerbaijan remained a major item on the bilateral agenda.

Below is the full transcript of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s speech, as published by the Prime Minister’s Office:

‘Honorable President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

The peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, established on August 8, 2025, with the support and personal engagement of US President Donald Trump, has opened up new opportunities for our region, the South Caucasus.

On this occasion, I would firstly like to address what President Trump referred to from this podium two days ago. I have said it and I reiterate it now: the breakthrough in the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan simply would not have been possible without President Trump’s personal engagement and his resolute commitment to establishing peace.

President Trump’s personal presence, by the way, has practical and symbolic expressions on the ground as well.

The fourth paragraph of the Peace Declaration adopted at the Peace Summit held at the White House on August 8, 2025 states: ‘The Republic of Armenia will work with the United States of America and mutually determined third parties, to set forth a framework for the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP) connectivity project in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. We confirm our determination to pursue efforts in good faith to achieve this goal in the most expeditious manner.’

The implementation of the TRIPP project is thus becoming a reality with tangible steps. The Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation on the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ project signed between Armenia and the United States of America will soon be ratified by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

We are currently working with the United States government to establish the TRIPP Development Company and sign a shareholders agreement.

Accordingly, Armenia will initially have a 26 percent stake in the TRIPP Development Company, and the United States will have a 74 percent stake. The agreement provides that in the event of its extension, in the 50th year, the Republic of Armenia’s share will become 49 percent, without additional investment.

One of the practical expressions of the TRIPP project will be the implementation of paragraph 3 of the Peace Declaration, adopted by me and the President of Azerbaijan on August 8, 2025, and signed by the President of the United States as a witness.

Paragraph 3 of the Declaration states: ‘We reaffirmed the importance of the opening of communications between the two countries for intra-state, bilateral, and international transportation for the promotion of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and in its neighborhood on the basis of respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction of the States. These efforts are to include unimpeded connectivity between the main part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of the Republic of Armenia with reciprocal benefits for international and intrastate connectivity for the Republic of Armenia.’

The implementation of the TRIPP project will be of historic importance for the Republic of Armenia. For the first time since the early 1990s, Armenia will get railway connection with Azerbaijan, and thus with Russia, Central Asia and China. However, it should be emphasized that after the Peace Summit on August 8, 2025, Azerbaijan opened its railway to Armenia, and now we have a railway connection with Azerbaijan through the territory of Georgia.

The implementation of the TRIPP project will create a direct railway connection between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as a railway connection from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan through the territory of Armenia and from Armenia to Armenia through the territory of Azerbaijan, because Armenia does not have a railway connection between its northern and southern regions, and this is practically possible only through the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan does not have a railway connection with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and this is practically possible only through the territory of Armenia.

In the near future, we will restore the railway sections of Meghri and Yeraskh in the Republic of Armenia that existed during the Soviet Union and were later destroyed, and the railway connections I mentioned will be opened.

But this will also have a huge international significance, because in parallel with the construction of the aforementioned railways, we are waiting for the opening of the Armenia-Trkiye railway.

Together with the TRIPP project, this could become one of the most important events in the field of international logistics in recent decades, because thus a new railway connection will be opened between China, Central Asia, Trkiye and the European Union.

All this opens up another crucial opportunity for international logistics, because the restoration of the railway connection between Armenia and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of the Republic of Azerbaijan restores the railway connection between the Persian Gulf and the Black Sea. This is an important nuance, because it shows why and how the implementation of the TRIPP project promises great benefits to all countries in our region, and these potential benefits can become a cornerstone of long-term stability and peace.

Especially between Armenia and Azerbaijan. After almost 35 years of conflict, we are now discussing issues of building pipelines, power lines, and roads in addition to the east-west railway within the framework of the TRIPP project, and this will enable not only the Republic of Armenia, but also the entire South Caucasus to become a Crossroads of Peace.

Honorable President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

All of this reflects the optimism that has been established in our region and in the Republic of Armenia since the Washington Peace Summit on August 8, 2025. The citizens of Armenia reaffirmed their optimism in the parliamentary elections held on June 7 of this year, where the overwhelming majority of voters voted in favor of the slogan ‘Stand up for peace,’ enabling the ‘Civil Contract’ party to form a parliamentary majority.

The elections took place under special circumstances of external information manipulation, and a number of external and internal forces were developing and implementing a plan to seize the state, using mass disinformation, hybrid and other tools, as well as the distribution of mass voter bribes.

But the democratic and institutional reforms we have implemented in recent years proved their strength, and Armenia’s state institutions demonstrated high resilience, preventing state seizure and giving the people of Armenia the opportunity to have their say.

The people of Armenia have upheld the peace, and we must consistently engage in the further strengthening and institutionalization of peace.

In the relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the clarification of the fate of several thousand missing persons is a matter that needs to be addressed, on which we have reached an agreement to cooperate with Azerbaijan. Armenia is ready to continue and deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan on the issue of demining. And of course, people in the Republic of Armenia are waiting for the return of Armenians who were detained in Azerbaijan as a consequence of the conflict.

Along with these issues still being unresolved, another reason that fuels pessimists is the use of conflict rhetoric from time to time in certain circles of Armenia and Azerbaijan, sometimes at the official level. I think that we, I mean Armenia and Azerbaijan, have achieved more than sufficient results, which should be more valuable for us than the use of conflict rhetoric, whether it is about history or historical-cultural monuments or anything else.

Nurturing the peace, strengthening and making it institutional should be the main theme of cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For two and a half years now, there have been no casualties or injuries as a result of cross-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and I believe this is the greatest value that has been created as a result of the recent years.

We have never had such a period in the relations between independent Armenia and independent Azerbaijan before, even though Armenians and Azerbaijanis have centuries of experience of peaceful coexistence.

Our task, however, is not to restore that historical experience, but to build interstate relations on the basis of that experience of the peoples, based on respect for each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence. This, by the way, is exactly the rhetoric that Armenia and Azerbaijan have already agreed upon and initialed in the text of the agreement on establishing peace and interstate relations between the two countries.

The signing and ratification of the agreement, which was initialed at the Washington Peace Summit, is the next major topic in the joint agenda of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we will consistently continue to work in this direction.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The balanced and balancing foreign policy adopted by Armenia stems from the logic of multipolarity, which is one of the key principles of the United Nations. In recent years, we have established strategic relations with Georgia, France, China, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Germany, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, the United States of America, and the European Union.

Today, by the way, the European Commission approved the decision to adopt autonomous trade measures for Armenia, which is yet another manifestation of the new quality of Armenia-EU relations.

Our relations with Russia are in a transformation phase, and this is a natural process, because throughout the entire preceding period, the largest factor influencing relations between Armenia and Russia was the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.

Now that we have established peace with Azerbaijan, Armenia-Russia relations will naturally change, and it is our desire that these relations develop on the basis of the principles of friendship and mutual respect.

We will, of course, continue to develop our relations with our partners located closer to or farther from Armenia, and in this regard, I would like to highlight the countries of Central Asia, with which our relations are also highly dynamic.

But I also cannot but emphasize that the normalization and deepening of relations with our neighbors are nevertheless of key importance for our foreign policy vision. I have already spoken about the dynamics of our relations with Azerbaijan.

We have a high-level dialogue with Trkiye, and I want to confirm the words expressed by President Erdogan from this podium the other day, that we are resolutely advancing the process of normalizing Armenia-Trkiye relations.

Our relations with our two other neighbors, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Georgia, remain of exceptional importance to us, and our good neighborliness continues to develop and deepen.

The Republic of Armenia considers its contribution to the region’s stability and development to be our key task in international peace, stability, and development.

Honorable President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

This October, Armenia will host the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), and I invite you all to participate in this very important event for Armenia and for the international biodiversity agenda.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, this is what I wanted to share with you in my speech today. Thank you for your attention.’

The Pentagon will allocate $500 million for the production of military laser systems designed to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles.

The US military is already using laser weapons in the Strait of Hormuz to intercept aerial targets as part of the conflict in the Middle East. The weapons are also being tested along the US southern border as part of efforts to combat drug cartels.

The report notes that using lasers is significantly cheaper than conventional surface-to-air missiles and can reduce reliance on stocks of traditional ammunition.

The NY Post said modern systems, including the 60-kilowatt High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler with Surveillance (HELIOS), are mainly installed on warships because of their large size and high power requirements.

The newspaper also noted that some of these systems can be operated using modified controllers based on those designed for Xbox gaming consoles.

‘Our country’s global strategic partnerships and growing foreign investment in the non-oil sector are paving the way for deeper integration into global value chains in areas such as manufacturing, trade, energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies,’ President Ilham Aliyev said in his address to the participants of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.

‘These positive trends have also been recognized by international rating agencies. Fitch and Moody’s have upgraded Azerbaijan’s sovereign credit ratings to investment grade, with the outlook for the next period assessed as ‘stable’ and ‘positive’ respectively. Our financial resilience is further underscored by strategic currency reserves, which exceeded 110% of GDP at the end of 2025,’ the head of state said in his address.

‘Located at the intersection of the East-West and North-South corridors, Azerbaijan has become an important link and gateway between Asia and Europe. The Middle Corridor links Central Asia across the Caspian Sea with the South Caucasus, Trkiye and Europe, while the emerging Zangezur Corridor, also known as the TRIPP connectivity route, will further strengthen Azerbaijan’s role as a regional hub, and create new opportunities for trade, investment and industrial cooperation across Eurasia,’ the Azerbaijani leader added.

The US and China have agreed to extend their bilateral trade truce, known as the “Busan agreement,” until January 10, 2027.

“Today, we agreed to extend the so-called Busan agreement between the two countries, which was due to expire on November 10, until January 10, to give us more time to assess our opportunities in the economic sphere,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News.

The Busan agreement was reached by US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2025. According to the information, it represents a truce in the trade war aimed at easing economic tensions between the two countries.

In April 2025, Washington raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, while Beijing responded by increasing tariffs on US imports to 125%.

In June, the two sides reached a truce and agreed to lower the tariff rates. On August 11, Trump signed an executive order extending the reduced tariffs on Chinese goods until November 10.

The announcement of the extension of the trade truce comes amid Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States. Xi arrived in the US on September 23, with his main talks with US President Donald Trump scheduled for September 24 in Washington. This is Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States in 11 years.