Category: Azer News

Trkiye issued a strong condemnation on Saturday after the United Nations Security Council renewed the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) for another year without the consent of the Turkish Cypriot side, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that extending the mission’s mandate without the agreement of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is ‘contrary to established UN practices and principles’ and perpetuates failed approaches to resolving the Cyprus issue.

Ankara expressed full backing for the TRNC’s statement on the matter, emphasizing that the continued reliance on outdated settlement frameworks obstructs a just and sustainable solution based on the island’s realities. The ministry stressed that UNFICYP operates in TRNC territory only with the goodwill of Turkish Cypriot authorities and called for a legal framework to regulate its presence. ‘Should this not happen in a timely manner, the steps to be taken by the TRNC authorities will have the full support of Motherland and Guarantor Trkiye,’ it warned.

The statement also criticized the resolution for including ‘biased references’ to infrastructure projects such as the Yigitler-Pile road-a humanitarian initiative to connect Turkish Cypriots in Pile village to the TRNC-while ignoring violations by the Greek Cypriot side, including construction in the buffer zone. Trkiye argued that the Greek Cypriot Administration has no sovereignty over northern Cyprus or the buffer zone and questioned the peacekeeping force’s effectiveness, noting that peace on the island has been maintained for decades by the Turkish Armed Forces and Trkiye’s guarantor role.

Reiterating that the most viable path forward is a two-state solution based on the sovereign equality of both sides, Trkiye urged the international community and the UN Security Council to recognize the TRNC’s inherent rights and support cooperation between two neighboring states in Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Trkiye intervened as a guarantor power following a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at unification with Greece. The TRNC was established in 1983 but is recognized only by Trkiye. UN-led peace efforts have repeatedly stalled, most notably in 2017, and the Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU in 2004 after rejecting a UN reunification plan.

On January 31, Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis hosted a meeting with members of the professional staff of the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, Samad Seyidov, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Affairs, head of the working group of Azerbaijan-U.S. interparliamentary relations, highlighted the history of the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations, existing avenues of cooperation, and future development prospects.

Touching upon the historic working visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to U.S. last August, the meetings held and the agreements reached during that visit, Samad Seyidov noted that those agreements had elevated the Azerbaijan-U.S. relations to qualitatively new level, also playing a crucial role in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agenda, as well as ensuring stability and enhancing cooperation in the region.

The meeting stressed the significance of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), adding that the implementation of this initiative supported by the U.S. will not only reshape Eurasia’s transport map, but also contribute significantly to deepening cooperation in the broader region.

The discussions emphasized the importance of repealing the Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, with regard to Azerbaijan noting that this would serve the development of bilateral relations, the strengthening of mutual trust, and the expansion of cooperation.

Members of the professional staff of the majority of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, hailed the recent positive dynamics in the U.S.-Azerbaijan relations, which have entered a new stage of development, adding that maintaining this dynamics would serve both countries’ interests.

Beginning January 31 at 09:00 Baku time, the U.S. federal government has partially shut down due to a lack of funding. Such shutdowns-commonly referred to as ‘shutdowns’ in the United States-occur intermittently when Democrats and Republicans in Congress fail to reach an agreement on the federal budget.

Azernews reports that the U.S. Senate on January 30 approved a package of appropriations bills to fund most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year, which concludes on September 30. The legislation covers key institutions, including the Pentagon, the State Department, as well as the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health, among others.

However, at the request of Democratic lawmakers, funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was removed from the package. As a result, the bills passed by the Senate must also be approved by the House of Representatives before being sent to President Donald Trump for signature.

The House is scheduled to resume work on February 2. If lawmakers approve the funding bills that day and the president signs them promptly, the shutdown could be resolved as early as February 2. Nonetheless, the possibility of further delays cannot be ruled out.

Democratic lawmakers have called for a reassessment of DHS funding following the death of a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis, Minnesota, who was fatally shot by a border service officer. Under the current proposal, DHS funding would be extended at existing levels for two weeks, while negotiations continue over reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

It is worth recalling that on November 12, 2025, President Trump signed legislation extending federal government funding through January 30, bringing an end to the longest shutdown in U.S. history on its 43rd day. Government operations had been halted on October 1 due to the absence of funding, following a failure by the ruling Republican Party and opposition Democrats to reach consensus in Congress, including over certain healthcare-related spending provisions. Both sides accused each other of triggering the shutdown and prolonging it for political purposes.

Azerbaijan has established a unified and transparent management system for organ donation and transplantation, the Deputy Minister of Health, Nadir Zeynalov, said during a scientific-practical roundtable in Baku, Azernews reports.

He noted that in 2022, the Ministry of Health created the Coordination Center for Organ Donation and Transplantation. Since its establishment, the center has systematized transplant operations, registration of donors and recipients, formation of waiting lists, and monitoring of procedures across the country.

‘Before the center was established, transplantations were sporadic, and there was no unified statistical record. Today, all processes are carried out based on transparent mechanisms, donors’ consent is verified through special procedures, and ethical issues are strictly monitored,’ Zeynalov said.

He added that efforts to digitalize the transplantation system are being implemented in phased stages.

A high-level panel discussion on ‘Strengthening Environmental Governance and International Cooperation for the Protection of the Caspian Sea’ was held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, the Caspisnet Scientific Network and the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention.

Addressing the official part of the event, Leyla Aliyeva, highlighted the global significance of the Caspian Sea, the environmental threats it currently faces, and the importance of the science-based cooperation to preserve it for future generations. Leyla Aliyeva emphasized that the ongoing shrinking in sea levels and the loss of biodiversity could result in increasingly severe consequences unless timely, coordinated measures are implemented. She urged the event participants to maintain discussions on the Caspian Sea, pursuing concrete steps that yield tangible results.

Speaking at the event, Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, and Galib Israfilov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, underlined the paramount importance of such discussions in fostering dialogue between government agencies, international organizations, and the expert community. The speakers underscored that enhancing institutional collaboration in environmental governance, alongside the active exchange of information and experience, will significantly bolster collective efforts to protect the Caspian Sea.

The discussions were followed by panel sessions featuring an exchange of views among key participants, including Arnold Kreilhuber, Regional Director of the UN Environment Programme’s Europe Office, and Francesca Racioppi, Head of Office at WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, who were joined by leaders and representatives from the University of Geneva, the Geneva Water Hub, and Caspisnet, as well as several other international organizations and think tanks. The discussions focused on environmental governance, the critical role of scientific research, and the significance of international collaboration and water diplomacy in protecting the Caspian Sea, resulting in the proposal of various strategic initiatives.

Afterwards, a short documentary highlighting the environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea was screened. The event concluded with an interactive Q and A session.

On January 30, 2026, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, participated in the 6th Meeting of the Coordination Committee of the Cooperation Organizations of Turkic States, held at the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Istanbul.

The meeting aimed to strengthen coordination among Turkic cooperation organizations, ensure mutual exchange of information on activities carried out, and discuss joint priority areas of cooperation for the upcoming period.

In accordance with the agenda, the outcomes of the 2025 Action Plan were reviewed, and priority initiatives planned for 2026 were considered. In addition, an in-depth discussion was held on the mechanisms for the implementation of decisions and instructions adopted by the Heads of State at the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, held in Gabala, as well as on further steps in this regard.

Speaking at the meeting, the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, informed the participants about the key projects implemented by the Foundation in 2025. She also noted that cooperation with partner organizations is being consistently expanded in order to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Turkic world at the international level.

Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova emphasized that the Foundation’s priorities are shaped in line with the strategic documents of the Turkic world, and that the principles of integration, cooperation, and unity form the basis of all initiatives. She also highlighted that coordinated activities within this platform serve the achievement of common goals.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Chairman of the Coordination Committee, Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev. The event was attended by the heads of leading international organizations of the Turkic world: Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev, President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev, Secretary General of TURKPA Ramil Hasan, Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs of the Turkic Investment Fund Erhan Trbedar, and Secretary General of the Union of Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Adem Kula.

The United States Department of State has approved a potential sale of Patriot air and missile defense systems and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, valued at approximately $9 billion, Azernews reports, citing the announcement was made by the Pentagon.

According to the Pentagon, Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractor for the sale of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors.

The approval follows a request from Saudi Arabia to purchase 730 PAC-3 MSE missiles, the statement said.

The Pentagon added that the proposed sale would not alter the military balance in the Middle East and would not negatively affect US defense readiness.

Azerbaijan is quietly becoming a testing ground for Gulf capital looking to move beyond oil, as investors from the Persian Gulf funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into the South Caucasus state, drawn by its renewable energy ambitions, strategic geography and political stability. While Central Asia still absorbs the lion’s share of Arab investment across Eurasia, new projects in Azerbaijan suggest a recalibration is underway, one that places Baku at the intersection of energy transition, regional connectivity and the Gulf’s search for long-term influence beyond hydrocarbons.

By mid-2025, Gulf sovereign funds and firms had invested $606 million in Azerbaijan, part of a broader surge in capital flows from Persian Gulf countries into the wider Eurasian region. According to the Eurasian Development Bank’s latest investment report, total Gulf investments across Eurasia reached $23.9 billion in the first half of 2025, more than triple the level of 2016 and up 60 percent on 2023, underscoring the growing strategic significance Gulf investors place on the region’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

For Azerbaijan, the share is modest compared with Central Asian magnets like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, which together absorb the lion’s share of funding. But the character of these investments reveals a deeper narrative: wealthy Gulf states are no longer merely investing in hydrocarbon extraction abroad; they are partnering in renewable energy and power-generation projects that align with Azerbaijan’s own diversification goals and broader global shifts toward cleaner energy.

Much of the $606 million invested in Azerbaijan by Gulf capital has gone into solar power, with UAE-based Masdar standing out as the most prominent partner. Masdar is building two large solar photovoltaic plants: a 315 MW facility in Neftchala and a 445 MW project in Bilasuvar. Once fully operational, these will generate more than 1.7 billion kWh of electricity annually and are expected to be commissioned by 2027.

These projects are not merely one-off investments. Masdar has signed a broader suite of agreements with Azerbaijani authorities that envisage up to 1 GW of new capacity and cooperation across renewables, including solar and wind, tying into larger strategic goals to develop a green energy corridor and even explore green hydrogen. Masdar’s total planned outlays in Azerbaijan could exceed $1.2 billion over time, reflecting a long-term commercial and strategic commitment.

The Gulf interest dovetails with Azerbaijan’s own energy transition targets. Baku has articulated a plan to generate 6 GW of solar and wind energy by 2030, which would mark a significant shift for a country historically dominated by oil and gas exports. Partnerships with Masdar and others provide both capital and technology transfer, reinforcing Azerbaijan’s ambitions to reduce gas consumption domestically while freeing up hydrocarbons for export.

The growing role of Gulf capital in Azerbaijan reflects broader structural shifts within Gulf economies themselves. Faced with the long-term imperative to diversify from hydrocarbon dependency, Gulf states, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are channeling funds into overseas energy projects that emphasize low-carbon and renewable infrastructure as well as conventional energy. Research shows that Gulf countries have sharply increased foreign investment into Eurasia over the last decade, with much of the recent growth driven by energy projects outside fossil fuels.

The UAE alone accounts for about 68 percent of Gulf investment into the Eurasian region, followed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. While Central Asia remains the main destination, especially for oil and power generation, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia are starting to benefit from a widening investor focus.

Azerbaijan’s role is further enhanced by bilateral ties with the UAE that go beyond project financing. In the energy sector, Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC holds a stake in the Azerbaijani Absheron gas-condensate field, and joint ventures between SOCAR and UAE firms span upstream and downstream cooperation. These linkages create a more integrated energy partnership that encompasses fossil fuels, renewables and, potentially, electricity exports to regional grids.

For Baku, Gulf investment serves multiple purposes. The inflows support Azerbaijan’s stated aim of economic diversification, anchored by renewable energy and infrastructure that can sustain growth irrespective of global oil and gas cycles. They deepen geopolitical ties with Gulf capitals and potentially offer a cushion against volatility in Western capital markets. This is important as Azerbaijan seeks to balance relationships with European, Asian and Middle Eastern partners.

Moreover, the presence of international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), co-financing Gulf-backed projects adds credibility and lowers risk for future investors. The combination of sovereign, multilateral and private capital is a powerful driver of project viability in a region where energy demand is rising and policy frameworks increasingly favor sustainability.

The broader narrative is one of transition without rupture: Azerbaijan remains a significant oil and gas exporter while building a parallel green energy portfolio, and Gulf investors, once focused on hydrocarbons alone, are now ready to finance the cleaner side of that transition.

The US Embassy in Trkiye stated on Saturday that its social media channels will not be updated regularly until full operations resume, except for urgent safety and security announcements. The move comes as the US government entered a temporary shutdown after Congress failed to pass a funding law, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak.

In a notice posted on its social media accounts, the embassy attributed the reduced online activity to the funding lapse but noted that scheduled passport and visa services in the US and at overseas diplomatic missions are expected to continue ‘as conditions permit.’ The embassy directed those seeking information on services and operating status to the travel.state.gov website.

The US government began a partial shutdown early Saturday after lawmakers did not reach an agreement on a spending bill before the deadline. Such shutdowns typically affect non-essential federal operations and can disrupt diplomatic communications and public outreach, though critical and security-related functions often remain active.

Preparations are ongoing in Abu Dhabi for the ‘Peace Shield – 2026’ joint operational-tactical exercise, involving personnel from the Azerbaijan Army and the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

Military personnel were first briefed on safety rules, followed by a detailed overview of the exercise’s objectives, scenario, location, phased activity plan, and tasks.

The exercise will take place in residential areas, mountainous terrain, and maritime environments.

According to the plan, the drills will include: neutralizing illegal armed groups in mountains, regaining control of a captured vessel, eliminating terrorist elements and rescuing hostages, evacuating the wounded, preventing riots and sabotage in residential areas, and conducting firefighting operations.