Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus could become one of the world’s key strategic connectors in an emerging multipolar order.
Speaking to AnewZ in Baku during the World Urban Forum (WUF), Sachs described the region as a natural bridge linking East and West, as well as North and South.
He said initiatives such as Europe’s Global Gateway and China’s Belt and Road Initiative could converge in Baku, strengthening the region’s role as a connectivity hub.
“In the new order that I would like to see - a peaceful, multipolar, and cooperative world - Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus would be natural key connectors,” Sachs said.
He stressed that Eurasia should become an integrated and peaceful economic region stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, arguing that cooperation, trade, investment, and tourism are more beneficial than geopolitical confrontation.
Sachs also highlighted Azerbaijan’s growing role in connectivity through energy and transport routes, but warned against turning energy and trade into geopolitical weapons.
While describing Azerbaijan as an important hydrocarbon power, he said the region also has major renewable energy potential, particularly in solar energy.
Discussing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Sachs said neighbouring countries naturally benefit from economic cooperation and infrastructure development once conflict ends.
He argued that countries in the South Caucasus share a common interest in preserving their sovereignty and avoiding becoming battlegrounds for major power rivalries.
“The worst thing for countries is to become the site of a proxy war between major powers,” he said.
On global politics, Sachs described the United States and China as “roughly co-equal powers,” saying China had strengthened its position through investment, manufacturing, technology, and by staying out of wars.
He said the recent Trump-Xi summit in Beijing showed that both sides were interested in maintaining responsible competition rather than escalating into a new Cold War.
Sachs also criticised the increasing use of sanctions, tariffs, and financial systems as geopolitical tools, arguing that countries are rapidly developing alternatives to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar and Western-controlled systems.
“The idea of economics as a weapon is very strong in American rhetoric, but to my mind, it is already outdated,” he said.
Speaking about tensions involving Iran, Sachs strongly opposed further escalation, describing conflict in the region as dangerous for stability, trade, and energy security.
He warned that a wider confrontation could have serious consequences for neighbouring regions, including the South Caucasus and the Caspian area.
He also addressed the issue of rapid urbanisation, saying housing has become not only a social challenge but also an issue of political and economic stability. Sachs noted that more than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, with the figure expected to rise to around 70% by 2050.
“These cities should be decent places to live. They should be healthful. They should be productive. They should have jobs,” he said.
According to Sachs, future cities should focus on sustainable infrastructure, public transport, walkability, digital innovation, and reduced dependence on private car ownership.
During the World Urban Forum in Baku, Sachs said the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and UN-Habitat would launch a new advisory council focused on the future of cities and sustainable urban development worldwide.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Financial markets are significantly underestimating the economic impact of biodiversity loss, potentially leaving countries exposed to sovereign debt crises and rising borrowing costs, according to new research published on Friday.
Wildlife researchers have identified dozens of previously unknown insect species during an expedition to Angola’s remote Lisima Plateau, a conservation group announced on Wednesday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and three others injured following drone attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Azerbaijan has strongly rejected allegations published by CNN claiming that its territory was used for Israeli military and intelligence operations against Iran, describing the report as entirely baseless and demanding a retraction.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with around 600 mothers dying for every 100,000 live births.
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Azerbaijan is once again at the centre of global climate diplomacy, hosting World Environment Day 2026 and bringing together international leaders, policymakers and organisations to address urgent environmental challenges.
The Eighth Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly has concluded in Samarkand, bringing together representatives from 186 countries to set environmental priorities and approve new funding for climate, biodiversity and sustainable development initiatives.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has warned ahead of World Environment Day that Afghanistan's worsening water crisis is disproportionately affecting women and girls, who bear much of the responsibility for securing water for their families.
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