Aliyev Made A Statement About Superpowers That Was Painful For Putin

• 4.10.2026, 11:30

Russia is the odd one out.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a statement on geopolitics that is unlikely to please the Kremlin. The Azerbaijani leader refused to consider Russia a superpower, stating that there are only two countries in the world with that status—the United States and China.

The Azerbaijani president made this statement at the congress of Azerbaijan’s ruling “New Azerbaijan” Party.

“These are the world’s two superpowers; there is no third,” said the Azerbaijani leader.
According to Aliyev, Baku has strategic partnerships with both Washington and Beijing. Specifically, Azerbaijan signed a declaration on a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and a strategic charter was signed with the United States.

Thus, the President of Azerbaijan did not include Russia on the list of superpowers, whose authorities, led by dictator Vladimir Putin, continue to fantasize about restoring an empire.

In addition to Baku’s relations with Washington and Beijing, Aliyev also spoke about a strategic partnership with ten member states of the European Union.

The president added that Azerbaijan, despite its relatively small population and territory, enjoys the trust of other countries.