EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s planned visits to Yerevan and Baku framed the 8th European Political Community summit on 4 May, as European leaders focused on fragile South Caucasus peace efforts and rising geopolitical tensions.
The summit brought together European leaders, NATO officials and international partners.
Discussions centred on broader global security challenges, including the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and coordination of European defence policy.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the summit as historic. In his opening remarks, he said: “To consider this summit historic for Armenia, not to mention that it is the first European event of this scale ever hosted by Armenia.”
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in a video address to the summit that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is already delivering practical results, including trade flows and new connectivity projects.
“Both Armenia and Azerbaijan already see the practical benefits of peace,” he said, referring to cargo transit and planned infrastructure initiatives such as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.
Aliyev also reiterated concerns over international double standards:
“Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has the same value as that of any other country. In this issue, double standards are unacceptable.”
Following the Yerevan discussions, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was received in Baku by President Ilham Aliyev on 5 May for high-level talks.
Aliyev underlined that the EU remains Azerbaijan’s main trading partner and a key energy security partner, noting that Azerbaijani gas has recently started supplying Germany and Austria.
Kallas highlighted the importance of the joint statement between Aliyev and European Council President António Costa during his visit to Azerbaijan, saying it reflects the strategic nature of EU- Azerbaijan relations and confirms Azerbaijan as an important EU partner.
Separately, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Kaja Kallas discussed the resumption of negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan strategic partnership agreement and the Partnership Priorities document.
Speaking to AnewZ, Elmira Talybzadeh, Political analyst in Caucasus Policy Analysis Centre (CPAC) said the renewed engagement signals a broader shift in EU-Azerbaijan relations.
She stated that Azerbaijan’s role goes beyond energy supply, stressing its importance as a transport and logistics hub in emerging regional routes:
“For several countries in the Southern and Eastern Europe, Azerbaijan gas already covers a significant part of their needs… So when we talk about energy security today, I think we have a very large part of that stability directly linked to Azerbaijan.”
Commenting on energy cooperation, she pointed to rising gas exports to Europe:
“In 2021, exports to Europe was around 8 billion cubic metres. By 2023, this figure reached about 12 billion cubic metres. And there are plans to increase it at least to 20 billion cubic metres by 2027.”
Advisor at the Center of Analysis of International Relations, Huseyn Sultanli, told AnewZ the Yerevan summit marks a turning point for the region, stressing its political and symbolic importance for the South Caucasus.
On the peace process, he said there is a noticeable shift in EU messaging:
“We are seeing more mentions of the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia from the EU… I think it's positive that the EU is now openly and consistently referring to the normalisation process.”
He also highlighted practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a key trust-building factor, while stressing that “work remains to be done on the normalisation process,” including the signing of a peace treaty.
Despite ongoing dialogue, tensions between Baku and European institutions persist.
Azerbaijan strongly rejected a recent European Parliament resolution, with Assistant to the President Hikmat Hajiyev calling it a “diplomatic disgrace.”
The country also summoned the EU ambassador, accusing the resolution of bias and interference in internal affairs.
Analysts say the South Caucasus peace process is entering a sensitive phase shaped by negotiations, external influence and domestic political developments in Armenia, including upcoming elections.
While challenges remain, the overall trajectory is cautiously viewed as moving towards normalisation, supported by continued dialogue between Baku and Yerevan and increased international engagement.
Following visits by the Latvian and Ukrainian presidents and the Czech prime minister, Baku has attracted increased diplomatic attention amid wider geopolitical shifts linked to the war in Eastern Europe and instability in the Middle East.
Separately, Azerbaijan and Italy reaffirmed strong bilateral ties during high-level talks held in Baku on 4 May.
Ilham Aliyev held both one-on-one and expanded talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with both sides highlighting deepening cooperation.
Energy cooperation continues to play a central role, with 9.5 billion cubic metres of gas exported to Italy last year out of a total of 25 billion cubic metres. Italian officials emphasised the strategic importance of the visit.
"Our political relations are at the highest level. At the same time, our trade relations are also in excellent condition," said Ilham Aliyev.
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