Aliyev: We won’t risk lives of Azerbaijanis

President Ilham Aliyev has said Azerbaijan is not considering participation in any combat or peace enforcement mission in the Gaza Strip, stressing that any discussion of involvement depends on a clearly defined international mandate, the nature of the mission, and the consent of all parties.

On 5 January, Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by local television channels, responding to a question on whether Azerbaijan could contribute peacekeepers given its balanced relations with both Israel and the Arab-Islamic world, and said Baku had received inquiries but had taken no decision.

“We have received such inquiries. Naturally, before making a decision, we must clearly understand what the mandate of the operation would be and what kind of operations are planned,” he said.

Peacekeeping versus peace enforcement

Aliyev drew a clear distinction between peacekeeping missions and peace enforcement operations, underlining that Azerbaijan would not take part in the latter.

“Will these be ‘peacekeeping’ operations or ‘peace enforcement’ operations? These are two different things. We are naturally not ready for the latter, nor have we ever considered participating in it,” he said.

Referring to Azerbaijan’s past deployments, he noted that its troops had served in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan under non-combat mandates.

“We defined our function as the protection of strategic sites. We never engaged in combat operations, and I am not considering any participation in combat operations outside of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev added.

‘Every Azerbaijani citizen is precious’

The president said Azerbaijan’s own experience of conflict makes it unwilling to risk lives abroad.

“My country has suffered from aggression. Every Azerbaijani citizen is precious to us. We have no intention of risking the lives and health of Azerbaijanis for the sake of others,” he said.

Aliyev added that when Azerbaijan faced hardship, it was largely left without protection. “When we were in trouble, we were left to our own fate. No one protected us,” he said.

While reaffirming support for Palestinian statehood in international forums, Aliyev said regional issues should be resolved by regional actors.

“I have always maintained that the affairs of Arab countries should be resolved by the Arab countries themselves,” he said, pointing to the Arab League and decisions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Dispute over U.S. claims

Aliyev also rejected claims by the U.S. ambassador to the UN that Azerbaijan had already agreed to take part in a Gaza-related mission.

“We did not give our consent, and we informed the U.S. administration through diplomatic channels that such false statements are unacceptable and create a false impression,” he said.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan submitted a questionnaire of more than 20 questions to Washington.

“Until these questions are clarified, no participation by Azerbaijan in any mission is envisioned,” he said.

Azerbaijan and the Abraham Accords 

Aliyev’s remarks come amid broader international discussions about Azerbaijan’s potential role in emerging regional diplomatic frameworks.

Launched in 2020 under then-U.S. President Donald Trump, the Abraham Accords opened a new chapter in Middle Eastern diplomacy by promoting normalisation, economic cooperation and regional stability between Israel and several Arab states.

As Washington explores expanding the framework, Azerbaijan is increasingly viewed as a natural and constructive partner, given its long-standing strategic ties with Israel and its reputation for pragmatic, balanced diplomacy.

Analysts note that Azerbaijan already reflects many of the Accords’ core principles through its multivector foreign policy and emphasis on dialogue.

While Baku has not formally joined the framework, its cautious, step-by-step approach reflects a focus on ensuring that any future engagement strengthens regional stability and complements efforts toward peace in the Middle East.

Aliyev said speculation in the foreign press had made it necessary to clearly restate Azerbaijan’s position, both for domestic audiences and for international partners.

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Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev Gaza