Aliyev’s Parliamentary Priorities: Army, Security, Sovereignty

President Ilham Aliyev's recent address to the National Assembly served as yet another stark reminder of Azerbaijan’s complex geopolitical situation. The President spoke candidly about ongoing ideological and geopolitical provocations from abroad and the need to strengthen national defense. However, it was his remarks on the continued closure of Azerbaijan’s land borders that sparked the most intense discussions in political circles.

The Azerbaijani government is offering Israeli companies operating in the high-tech sector the opportunity to relocate to Azerbaijan in exchange for tax incentives.

A cyberattack by the Israeli intelligence service against the Lebanese organization "Hezbollah," which severely injured about 2,800 terrorists, has raised concerns among specialists in Azerbaijan. If a central signal can successfully disrupt around four thousand pagers in an enemy country, then by similarly interfering with the operation of mobile phones, a potential adversary could harm Azerbaijan. Moreover, it’s not necessarily about destroying phones; using similar technology, an enemy could interfere with the management systems of modern weapons or the command posts of the Azerbaijani army.

The unexpected arrival of Richard Moore, head of the British intelligence service MI6, in Baku on September 14 has stirred intrigue in diplomatic and intelligence circles. Moore’s official engagement included delivering a lecture at ADA University, a significant event that drew attention across Azerbaijan. However, the true importance of his visit is believed to extend far beyond academic discussions. In the absence of official statements from either Azerbaijani authorities or the British Embassy, speculation is mounting that Moore's visit is a strategic move tied to broader regional security issues, including those involving Iran, Russia, the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine.