Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid an official visit to Georgia yesterday. President Ilham Aliyev met with his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Kavelaşvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. Relations between the two countries, logistics, regional stability, and other issues were discussed.
The future outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev's visit are a noteworthy topic.
In a statement to Modern.az, **Arzu Naghiyev**, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Defense, Security, and Anti-Corruption, and head of the Azerbaijan-Georgia inter-parliamentary working group, spoke about the steps to be taken between the two countries after President Ilham Aliyev's visit:
“The visit of Azerbaijani President Mr. Ilham Aliyev to Georgia is aimed at further strengthening the already existing strategic partnership between the two countries. It is known that the energy, transport, and regional security sectors are the most important directions. An increase in practical projects through coordinated efforts is possible here, and steps will be taken in this direction. During the visit, important issues concerning Azerbaijan-Georgia relations from political, economic, and security perspectives were on the agenda. The importance of maintaining stability in the South Caucasus, regional strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan, strengthening the coordination of regional projects, especially cooperation in the energy and transport sectors, and the development of the Middle Corridor were discussed during the meetings. Naturally, after these meetings, new stages will begin within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor, and coordinated work will be carried out to increase gas exports to Europe. The capabilities of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway should be expanded, cooperation in the direction of the Middle Corridor should be strengthened, and our mutual trade turnover, which is around 1 billion dollars, should further increase. In addition, one of the issues that should be reflected is the implementation of joint industrial and logistics projects.”
The committee chairman emphasized that one of the most important issues is cooperation in the field of defense:
“Naturally, military exercises and experience exchange will be conducted. Cooperation in line with NATO standards will continue. Considering Georgia's close cooperation with NATO, this is beneficial for Azerbaijan. Special services and other law enforcement agencies have coordinated work. Very important directions exist, such as cooperation in border and cybersecurity, joint military exercises, and increasing cooperation opportunities in the defense industry. Furthermore, a large number of Azerbaijanis live in Georgia. There is a community known as Borchali Azerbaijanis in 5 districts. This plays an important social and political bridge role in Azerbaijan-Georgia relations. In the context of the visit to Georgia, I believe the role of the community becomes even more relevant. The activities of First Vice-President Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva in the direction of Georgia should be noted as humanitarian diplomacy complementing the political dialogue. Her meetings and initiatives will serve to strengthen and further increase ties with the Azerbaijani community in Georgia. Mrs. Mehriban's meetings and initiatives in this direction can be considered an important factor strengthening inter-state relations through soft power.”
A. Naghiyev also spoke about what innovations the visit would bring to inter-parliamentary relations:
“Azerbaijan-Georgia relations at the parliamentary level also gain special relevance against the backdrop of Ilham Aliyev's visit. The relationship between the Speakers of Parliament is at the highest level. Mutual visits are carried out between committees and deputies. Coordination exists on international and regional parliamentary platforms. This cooperation will further develop as an important issue, including more active engagement, exchange of legislative experience, strengthening the foundations of various projects, joint statements in parliamentary assemblies, and adopting a unified position on regional security issues. Naturally, after the visit, issues related to digital legislation and cybersecurity, and energy security will also be reflected in the joint activities of parliaments and committees. Cooperation at the parliamentary level ensures the continuity of agreements between the executive powers. This is precisely why a transition to an active, purposeful phase of parliamentary diplomacy is expected after the President's visit. In short, Mr. Ilham Aliyev's visit to Georgia is of great importance. After this visit, strategic partnership and friendship between the two countries will further develop.”
Meanwhile, **Azer Badamov**, Deputy Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, and Entrepreneurship, noted that the strength of friendly relations and constant togetherness between Azerbaijan and Georgia have led to many success stories such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, the Southern Gas Corridor, and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars:
“Relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are developing based on our shared history and have risen to the level of strategic partnership. The strengthening of relations between our countries generally reinforces peace and cooperation in the South Caucasus and increases the international importance of our region. Today, the global economy is suffering in terms of ensuring the security of connectivity corridors. Ongoing conflicts and wars have created restrictions on traditional connectivity routes and increased the risks of crisis in the global economy. However, thanks to President Ilham Aliyev's farsighted policy, the South Caucasus has become a beacon of hope for international partners. The strength of friendly relations and our constant togetherness between Azerbaijan and Georgia have led to many success stories, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, the Southern Gas Corridor, and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, which are integral parts of the Middle Corridor. In the next period, work continues together towards the construction of the Green Energy project across the bottom of the Black Sea. Considering all this, we can say that relations between our countries are based on history and are strengthened day by day through iron lines, becoming eternal.”
A. Badamov emphasized that the development dynamics of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are positive:
“Thus, while the inter-country trade turnover exceeded 800 million dollars in 2025, this year this figure is expected to surpass 1 billion dollars. Azerbaijan has invested 3.5 billion dollars in the Georgian economy to date. Analyzing this development dynamic, we see good prospects for the development of inter-country relations. Moreover, today Georgia is showing its support in establishing our economic cooperation with Armenia. This generally means that the South Caucasus, which has been a conflict region for many years, is entering an era of peace and cooperation based on new realities. Amidst the conflicts occurring today, stable and secure regions in the world are very limited. By bringing peace to the South Caucasus, we also eternalize the security of our region by creating connections between continents.”
According to the parliamentarian, President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Georgia on April 6 will open a new page in inter-country relations:
“Within the framework of the meetings held by our heads of state, they discussed the prospects for the development of relations in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres between the countries. This included the expansion of investments, as well as the issue of joint investments in third countries, which were topics of discussion. Yes, our friendship and the stability ensured in our region are an example to the world.”
**Ulviyya Hamzayeva**, a member of the Milli Majlis Azerbaijan-Georgia inter-parliamentary working group and the Culture Committee, stated that the visit of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva to Georgia indicates that relations between the two countries are entering a new stage in the humanitarian and cultural spheres as well:
“The state visit of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva to Georgia is a very important event indicating that Azerbaijan-Georgia relations are entering a new stage not only in the political and economic spheres but also in the humanitarian and cultural dimensions. During the high-level meetings held in Tbilisi, President Ilham Aliyev stated that this visit would give a new impetus to relations between the two fraternal countries, while Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized the special importance of the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Georgia. This approach shows that relations between Baku and Tbilisi are no longer merely neighborly relations but a stable political line based on mutual trust, common interests, and long-term partnership.
The special significance of this visit lies in its exceptionally strong humanitarian and cultural content. First Vice-President Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva's visit to the Mirza Fatali Akhundzade Museum of Azerbaijani Culture in Tbilisi is not a coincidental protocol step but an expression of the high value placed on Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Georgia and the spiritual memory of our compatriots. The history of this museum also speaks volumes: a house-museum was established here in 1982, its activities expanded as a cultural center after 1996, it was granted museum status in 2007, and was fundamentally reconstructed in 2013 with the financial support of the Azerbaijani state. President Ilham Aliyev's visit to this museum in 2014 is also an indicator of Azerbaijan's long-term and consistent attention to its national-cultural heritage in Georgia.
Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva's presence at the Georgian National Museum also holds great symbolic and practical significance. During that visit, the donation of the "New Perspective on Cultural Heritage" collection, consisting of five rare carpets produced by "Azerkhalcha," to the Georgian National Museum on her behalf is an extremely delicate and effective example of Azerbaijani cultural diplomacy. This step is not only a gesture of friendship but also means that Azerbaijani carpet weaving art gains new presentation opportunities in Georgia's leading museum space, forming a new basis for future joint exhibitions, curatorial cooperation, scientific research, and cultural projects. Overall, Azerbaijan-Georgia cultural relations are currently at a sufficiently high level, and a concrete institutional base has already been formed for these relations. The Mirza Fatali Akhundzade Museum of Azerbaijani Culture today functions not only as a historical heritage site but also as a vibrant cultural platform where a library, gallery, events, and conferences are held. This indicates that cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are not composed of episodic events but are based on a systematic line of cooperation.”
The deputy believes that after this visit, new initiatives will emerge between the two countries, particularly in the areas of museum work, exhibition exchange, international presentation of carpet weaving art, joint research of heritage samples, diaspora culture, education, and humanitarian projects:
“Because President Ilham Aliyev has always valued the cultural and humanitarian sphere as one of the spiritual pillars of strategic partnership in Azerbaijan-Georgia relations. The state support shown to Azerbaijani cultural centers in Georgia, the environment of trust built over many years in this field, as well as the special attention given to culture within the framework of today's state visit, once again confirm this. Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva's presence at both the Akhundzade Museum and the Georgian National Museum demonstrated that Azerbaijan consistently develops these relations not only at the level of political dialogue but also in the dimension of cultural memory, shared heritage, and spiritual closeness. This is precisely why this visit is not only a confirmation of current relations but also an important indicator that spiritual bridges between Azerbaijan and Georgia will be further strengthened, common cultural projects will increase, and humanitarian integration will gain new content in the future.”
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MP Jeyhun Mammadov** stated that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's state visit to Georgia on April 6 is of particular importance for further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
"During the meeting, our head of state discussed the current state and development prospects of bilateral relations with the Georgian leadership. Mr. President also touched upon important aspects of Azerbaijan-Georgia cooperation in his statement to the press.
Azerbaijan's relations with Georgia are constructive and forward-looking. Both countries consistently support each other's positions. Azerbaijan has always provided support to Georgia, and Georgia has defended our country's rightful position on international platforms.
As a result of President Ilham Aliyev's thoughtful and farsighted policy, Azerbaijan and Georgia have consistently adopted the same position on both regional and global issues, further deepening bilateral ties.
The Republic of Azerbaijan attaches special importance to its bilateral relations with Georgia and is interested in deepening and expanding cooperation in all directions. The active political dialogue established at a high level between the two countries forms the basis of significant achievements in security, defense, economy, trade, energy, transport-logistics, tourism, cultural-humanitarian, and other fields.
Today, there is no area in Azerbaijan-Georgia relations where cooperation is not observed. Particularly, large joint projects implemented in the energy and transport-logistics sectors contribute not only to the development of bilateral relations but also to energy security and intercontinental transport connections on a regional and global scale.
New projects, cooperation directions, and prospects lie ahead. This level of relations gives us reason to say that the friendly and cooperative relations established between Azerbaijan and Georgia will further expand in the future. This will make a significant contribution to strengthening Azerbaijan-Georgia ties and deepening the environment of peace and cooperation in the region.”
