Azerbaijan diplomatic engagements in Baku

In October 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev engaged in several high-level diplomatic meetings in Baku. On October 10, Aliyev met with Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov to discuss historical ties and cooperation between their peoples. Kadyrov described the visit as a meeting between “brothers rather than mere neighbors” and referenced the relationship between former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev and Chechnya’s first President, Ahmet Kadyrov. During this period, Kadyrov also expressed condolences regarding a Baku-Grozný plane crash involving Azerbaijan Airlines and congratulated Azerbaijan on the resolution of the Karabakh issue. Additionally, Aliyev reportedly had a brief encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Caspian Ecological Summit regarding environmental security in the Caspian Sea.

Diplomatic efforts also focused on repairing relations with India. On October 22 and 23, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with President Aliyev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov to review bilateral relations and expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, high-tech, and cultural sectors. These discussions aimed to strengthen ties following a period of strained relations after Azerbaijan supported Pakistan during India’s 2025 military action, Operation Sindoor.

Key topics during the Indian delegation's visit included regional security, terrorism, and the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Jaishankar expressed support for a peace agreement between the two nations, noting India’s advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy. Both nations also discussed enhancing connectivity through the East–West and North–South transport corridors, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, the Port of Baku, and the Alat Free Economic Zone, as well as cooperation within the UN, SCO, and CICA.