From 16:00 on March 2 to 16:00 on March 3

The main themes of the Azerbaijani media on March 3, 2026 focus on the 12th ministerial meeting of the Advisory Council on the Southern Gas Corridor and the 4th ministerial meeting on green energy held in Baku, where issues of energy security and the transition to clean energy sources are being discussed.

Particular emphasis is placed on the development of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union. At the same time, it is noted that without long-term contracts and investments in infrastructure, meeting Europe’s growing gas demand is impossible.

The Azerbaijani media space has also recorded a significant intensification of contacts with Russia aimed at overcoming the consequences of the diplomatic crisis of 2025. The results of the meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk are widely covered. In particular, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation will take place in Azerbaijan in April. The media report on an agreement to take practical steps toward the final resolution of issues related to the crash of the Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft in December 2024, which had previously led to a cooling of relations.

Simultaneously with Overchuk’s visit, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Pyotr Gorodov also arrived in Baku.

Energy Partnership Between Azerbaijan and the European Union Expands: Jorgensen’s Visit to Baku

On March 3, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen.

The mission arrived in Baku to participate in the 12th ministerial meeting within the framework of the Advisory Council on the Southern Gas Corridor and the 4th ministerial meeting within the framework of the Advisory Council on Green Energy.

Jorgensen stated that the partnership with Azerbaijan is of great importance to the European Union and expressed interest in expanding these ties.

During the meeting, Azerbaijan’s contribution to Europe’s energy security was discussed, along with the expansion of the geography of Azerbaijani energy exports to Europe and prospects for cooperation in the fields of natural gas and green energy.

Azerbaijan currently supplies gas via the Southern Gas Corridor to ten European Union member states, as well as Serbia and North Macedonia.

In 2025, 12.8 billion cubic meters of gas were delivered to Europe.

Assessment: The meeting confirmed the strategic nature of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union. Baku is strengthening its role as a reliable gas supplier to Europe and expanding the geography of exports while simultaneously developing partnership in the field of green energy. This demonstrates mutual interest in long-term and deepened energy cooperation.

Ilham Aliyev: The Southern Gas Corridor Is Fully Loaded and Requires Expansion

The Southern Gas Corridor is fully loaded, and the existing infrastructure must be expanded to increase Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe. This was stated by President Ilham Aliyev on March 3 at the 12th ministerial meeting within the framework of the Advisory Council on the Southern Gas Corridor and the 4th ministerial meeting within the framework of the Advisory Council on Green Energy. He announced plans to expand Azerbaijan’s presence in the European energy market.

“We have already started supplying gas to two more European countries, Germany and Austria. Thus, today ten European Union member states receive gas from Azerbaijan. In the coming years, taking into account the production of new gas volumes at Azerbaijani fields, we can increase supply volumes. However, for this we need to consider expanding the existing gas transportation infrastructure, since today the Southern Gas Corridor is already fully loaded, and we are looking for other opportunities for expansion and interconnections in order to be able to supply as much as the market requires, and possibly even more, given the current situation in the world. And to be able to export as much as we can,” the President said.

Assessment: President Aliyev’s statement confirms that the Southern Gas Corridor has reached full capacity. Thus, the main challenges now lie not in gas production but in logistics. There is a need to expand gas transportation infrastructure, and the success of this task will depend on how quickly European countries can agree on financing and constructing new interconnecting networks within Europe.

Baku Awaits Financial Guarantees from Europe for Gas Infrastructure Expansion

Azerbaijan is ready to increase natural gas supplies to Europe; however, this requires a clear and long-term political framework strategy, stated Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov on March 3 during the ministerial session within the framework of the 12th meeting of the Advisory Council on the Southern Gas Corridor and the 4th meeting of the Advisory Council on Green Energy.

He outlined gas production projects for the period 2026 to 2029. This year, first gas production is expected within the project for the development of free gas volumes at the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field. Four additional exploration projects are also being implemented onshore and offshore. “Despite all these steps, as well as such positive developments as the entry of the United Arab Emirates company ADNOC through its subsidiary XRG into the shareholder structure of the Southern Gas Corridor, a clear and long-term political framework strategy supported by concrete financial mechanisms is required for a significant increase in supplies to Europe,” the Minister noted.

According to him, Azerbaijan is a reliable supplier to Europe, and demand for Azerbaijani gas remains high. “However, institutional and financial support from consumers for infrastructure expansion is still insufficient,” Shahbazov stated.

Assessment: Azerbaijan confirms its status as a reliable supplier but signals to Europe that without long-term contracts and investments in infrastructure, especially in the context of the energy transition, a large-scale increase in supplies is impossible. This effectively calls on the European Union to define its gas strategy amid decarbonization policies.

Evacuation from Iran and Joint Projects: Results of the Conversation between the Prime Ministers of Azerbaijan and Russia

On March 3, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov held a telephone conversation with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

During the telephone conversation, according to the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan, current issues of Azerbaijani-Russian trade and economic cooperation were discussed. Positive growth in trade turnover was noted. The implementation of joint projects in various areas of mutual interest was discussed.

During the conversation, the Russian side expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani leadership for its assistance in the prompt evacuation of Russian citizens from the Islamic Republic of Iran amid the challenging regional situation.

The heads of government noted the importance of yesterday's visit of the Russian government delegation, led by the Deputy Prime Minister, to Baku and welcomed the agreement to hold the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Azerbaijan in April of this year.

Asadov congratulated Mishustin on his 60th birthday, wishing him continued success in his public service.

Assessment: The contents of the telephone conversation reflect the parties' commitment to returning Azerbaijani-Russian relations to a constructive track, with an emphasis on economic cooperation, operational interaction on regional issues, and maintaining trusting diplomatic contacts.

Beyond the protocol: were the plane crash and the fate of the diaspora ignored at the meeting of prosecutors general?

On March 3, Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan Kamran Aliyev received Deputy Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Pyotr Gorodov, who is visiting Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Gorodov noted the high level of relations between the prosecutorial authorities of the two countries. He praised the professional and high-quality preparation of the inquiries submitted regarding criminal cases, as well as the fact that a criminal case had been opened in Azerbaijan for a crime committed many years ago in the Russian Federation, and the perpetrators had been prosecuted.

The parties expressed confidence that the close cooperation and friendly relations existing between the prosecutorial authorities of Azerbaijan and Russia would continue to develop successfully in all areas.

However, it is unclear from the official statement whether the investigation in Russia into the causes of the crash of the Azerbaijani passenger plane or the arrests of members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Russia were discussed during the meeting.

Assessment: Judging by the official statement, the main message of the public meeting between the two countries was the commitment to "constructive cooperation" between the prosecutorial authorities of the two countries, despite the remaining unresolved issues in bilateral relations involving law enforcement agencies.

Natig Jafarli: Fundamental Factors Are Stronger Than Emotions — Why Oil Prices May Fall by Summer

The sharp rise in global oil prices as a result of military escalation in the Middle East has triggered various reactions, from enthusiastic to alarming, notes Natig Jafarli, head of the political committee of the Republican Alternative party and an economist.

“However, the economy, including oil prices, is shaped not by emotions but by fundamental causes and medium- and long-term trends,” he wrote on his Facebook account.

Jafarli points to an oil surplus on the global market. OPEC Plus recently decided to increase production starting in April, which is a factor that may push prices downward.

Geopolitical tensions and military actions in oil-producing and transit regions psychologically push prices upward. The market and exchanges may react emotionally in the short term, but sustainable trends are determined by fundamental factors.

Jafarli believes that an agreement with Iran will be reached soon and that Iran, as well as Venezuela, will return to the oil market. “Therefore, after emotions subside and agreements are reached, we will likely see a price decline. By the summer of this year, prices are likely to stabilize in the range of fifty-five to sixty United States dollars,” he believes.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan’s 2026 state budget projections are based on an oil price of sixty-five United States dollars per barrel.

Assessment: The expert’s conclusion is that the current price surge represents geopolitical foam that will subside once tensions decrease. For Azerbaijan, this signals the need for cautious planning, as fundamental trends are working against sustained high prices.

Azerbaijani National Suspected of Monitoring United States Aircraft Carrier in Greece

Greek special services detained a Georgian citizen of Azerbaijani origin who, according to the investigation, was conducting surveillance of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization naval base and, in particular, the United States aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford on the island of Crete.

The man, who was staying at a hotel in close proximity to the United States Air Force and Navy base in Souda Bay and filming military facilities, was reported by the Greek television channel ERTnews.

Approximately five thousand photographs and a large number of videos were seized from the suspect. The prosecutor will decide on a possible arrest. The man had previously been seen photographing strategically important facilities and military vessels entering and leaving Souda Bay.

The German Press Agency recalls that on June twenty-first in Cyprus, a native of Azerbaijan was detained on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack against military facilities in that country. Cypriot media, citing government sources, reported that the detainee entered the country with a British passport but allegedly acted on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran.

Assessment: The detention in Greece, as well as the recent case in Cyprus, where, according to media reports, the suspect may have acted in the interests of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, indicates possible attempts by Iranian intelligence services to use ethnic Azerbaijanis in intelligence or sabotage activities against Western military infrastructure.

More Than Seven Hundred People Evacuated from Iran Through Azerbaijan

Media attention has also focused on the evacuation from Iran of citizens of Azerbaijan and other countries.

As of 16:00 on March 3, 2026, the total number of people evacuated from Iran through the border with Azerbaijan since February 28 amounts to 731.

Overall Assessment

The media agenda during the reporting period reflects a convergence of three key vectors: energy diplomacy with the European Union, the normalization of relations with Russia after the diplomatic tensions of 2025, and the impact of regional instability related to Iran on Azerbaijan’s security and foreign policy posture.

First, energy policy remains the dominant theme. The discussions in Baku confirm that the Southern Gas Corridor has reached full capacity and that future growth depends not on production volumes but on infrastructure expansion and financial commitments from European partners. Azerbaijan is clearly positioning itself as a reliable and strategically important supplier for Europe, while at the same time signaling that further expansion requires long-term contracts, institutional guarantees, and shared investment risks. In parallel, cooperation in green energy demonstrates an attempt to balance hydrocarbon exports with participation in the energy transition.

Second, the intensification of high-level contacts with Russia indicates a deliberate effort to stabilize bilateral relations. The emphasis on economic cooperation, the planned meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, and references to practical steps regarding unresolved issues suggest a gradual return to a pragmatic agenda. However, sensitive topics such as the aircraft crash investigation and diaspora-related concerns remain either unresolved or publicly unaddressed.

Third, developments related to Iran introduce an additional layer of complexity. Evacuation efforts, regional military tensions, and incidents involving individuals of Azerbaijani origin abroad underscore the broader security risks associated with the escalating crisis. Azerbaijan is navigating this environment cautiously, balancing humanitarian responsibilities, regional stability concerns, and the need to avoid entanglement in broader geopolitical confrontation.

Taken together, the coverage reveals a strategic pattern: Azerbaijan is consolidating its role as an energy hub for Europe, cautiously recalibrating relations with Russia, and maintaining a measured stance amid regional turbulence linked to Iran. The overarching priority appears to be stability, predictability, and the preservation of strategic maneuverability in a volatile geopolitical environment.

Overall Conclusion

During the reviewed period, Azerbaijan:

• Pursued an active energy diplomacy agenda centered on strengthening its role as a strategic gas supplier to Europe.
• Publicly emphasized that any significant increase in gas exports requires long-term contracts, financial guarantees, and infrastructure investments from European partners.
• Signaled that logistical and transportation capacity, rather than production volumes, has become the primary constraint for expanding supplies to the European market.
• Intensified high-level political and economic contacts with Russia, demonstrating a gradual normalization of relations after the diplomatic tensions of 2025.
• Confirmed plans to resume structured bilateral engagement through the upcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.
• Maintained a cautious public tone regarding sensitive unresolved issues, including the aircraft crash investigation and diaspora-related concerns.
• Actively facilitated the evacuation of foreign nationals from Iran, reinforcing its image as a responsible regional actor and humanitarian transit corridor.
• Closely monitored regional security risks linked to Iran and their potential spillover effects on domestic stability and international perception.
• Highlighted the importance of prudent fiscal planning amid oil price volatility, given expectations that the current price surge may prove temporary.

The agenda of the period reflects a combination of strategic energy positioning, pragmatic geopolitical recalibration, and careful risk management amid heightened regional instability. Baku seeks to consolidate its status as a reliable energy partner, cautiously restore constructive engagement with key regional actors, and preserve strategic flexibility in an increasingly volatile security environment.