In Azerbaijan, Border Closures Fuel Tensions and Public Mistrust

In his speech to the Milli Majlis on September 23, 2024, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s strategic priorities: strengthening its army, securing its borders, and preserving its sovereignty. His warnings to Armenia and its foreign backers underscored the challenges Azerbaijan faces in achieving lasting peace in the region. Nonetheless, his focus on self-reliance, economic diversification, and reconstruction paints a picture of a country determined to move forward despite the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding it. As Aliyev said, "Azerbaijan has long established itself as a worthy and proud state."

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.