It’s impossible not to notice how the influence of countries from the so-called Global South on global processes is increasing every year.
This term is relatively new, and even if not everyone associates it with positive connotations, the South is set for a breakthrough. It is dynamic, relying on synergy and making a significant contribution to a creative trend. It carries an impressive mission to improve the environment for millions of people living on different continents. The West does not hold a monopoly on progress.
The official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Egypt vividly demonstrated how mid-level states cooperate and pool national strategic resources to address pressing economic and socio-humanitarian issues. Negotiations between the Azerbaijani leader and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi confirmed their mutual desire to bridge gaps and jointly overcome challenges to achieve progress in key areas.
There is much in common between the two countries, not just because their peoples have endured similar fates, breaking free from the dominance of powerful states. They have suffered greatly for the right to determine their own development paths, priorities, and goals.
At this stage in their relations, their mutual benefit lies in voluntarily enhancing their partnership, with mutual trust being the key to success.
The political dialogue is encouraging. Over time, as they successfully navigated important stages of alignment, clear prospects for enriching their relations with concrete content emerged.
In early 2023, Egyptian President el-Sisi visited Azerbaijan on an official visit, and now the Azerbaijani president has reciprocated with a visit to Egypt, demonstrating their mutual desire to implement the requirements of strategic partnership in reality.
Relations are at a high political level, promising significant benefits from cooperation in vital areas such as security, energy, communications, tourism, and others.
As far back as 1994, the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, during a visit to Egypt, outlined the main lines of interaction, reminding the ruling elite of the leading Arab country about the historical ties binding the two peoples. He prophetically stated that the two peoples are destined to maintain close relations not only to overcome difficulties but also to achieve real progress through close cooperation.
This was the starting period of Azerbaijan’s sovereign development, as it spread its wings for free flight in the global arena. Much water has since flowed in the Nile and the Kura, and hopes for close rapprochement have come to fruition. Today, Baku and Cairo successfully cooperate not only bilaterally but also confidently support each other on the world stage, demonstrating the advantages of true solidarity.
The mutual support of Azerbaijan and Egypt at the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and other international platforms has become the norm, benefiting not only the two countries but also other states that share common values with Baku and Cairo.
The participation of both countries in strengthening Islamic solidarity is particularly significant, which has become an imperative for all peoples of the Muslim world. It is no secret that Western institutions, political elites, and reactionary circles have a biased attitude towards the positions of Islamic countries on fateful issues. Dictation, pressure, the imposition of alien standards, and patronizing attitudes toward the states and peoples of the Global South have become intolerable.
This is especially evident today when certain states, driven by their audacious leaders and politicians, are reviving colonial foundations, resurrecting outdated norms and standards of bygone eras. Many peoples in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and other continents are tired of the blatant pressure from racists and obscurantists, and people are eager to say out loud, “Leave us alone.”
President Ilham Aliyev constantly voices their consolidated position from various high platforms. In November 2022, at the Arab League summit in Algeria, where the Azerbaijani leader was invited as a special guest, he called things by their names, highlighting key issues in the complex relationship between the West and the Global South. Ilham Aliyev urged the brotherly states of the Arab and Muslim world to unite in combating outdated tendencies, new manifestations of colonialism, and racism. His calls were heard and supported.
It is not surprising that today Baku extends a helping hand to oppressed peoples of the overseas islands of Oceania. For their needs, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the creation of a special aid fund. This is a true manifestation of healthy solidarity with suffering peoples and generations.
Official Cairo supports Baku’s necessary initiatives and efforts, seeing in its active position a formula for a healthy world system. Therefore, it is important to develop economic cooperation to address socio-cultural, humanitarian, and other problems in countries and regions where entrenched issues still persist.
In the relationship between Egypt and Azerbaijan, there is great potential for developing economic and trade relations. Energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, various industries, transport, tourism, and other areas represent mutual interests where there are prerequisites for stimulating joint programs and projects.
Egypt is not only a country with a growing population but also a market where Azerbaijani businesses have great opportunities for broad representation. The Arab world’s leader is also a key country located at the junction of three continents. Egypt opens the way for Azerbaijan to Africa, where attractive trends in not only production and economic relations but also technological breakthroughs are unfolding.
For the successful implementation of new ideas and plans, joint efforts in the field of security are important. It is well known that subversive centers operating under the auspices of Western intelligence agencies constantly launch intrigues in the most key and sensitive regions of the Islamic world. Cooperation between Egypt and Azerbaijan in the religious and spiritual sphere is of lasting importance. The two countries successfully increase their contribution to strengthening Islamic solidarity, curbing various aggressive tendencies of Islamic teachings. They, being creations of Western political technology centers, bring with them blood, suffering, and moral degradation. This cannot only be tolerated but must be decisively fought against.
It is also impossible to look calmly at the pain and suffering of the Palestinian people, who have been waiting for justice from the international community for more than eighty years. Azerbaijan, through real steps supporting Islamic solidarity, places primary importance on the problems of the Islamic world. In this regard, the tragedy of the Palestinians is at the forefront.
Baku is a staunch supporter of a just resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the principle of two states. Palestine must be reborn within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem. The principled position of Azerbaijan and Egypt in this regard should influence the attitudes of global powers.
By bringing together visions and positions on pressing issues of bilateral and international agendas, Baku and Cairo achieve benefits from cooperation, prioritizing the creation of a healthy competitive environment. This is important because it blocks the path for forces eager to turn the Near and Middle East and North Africa into a large area of uncompromising clashes.
Such a situation is supported by the peoples of the two countries, and it deserves praise and all forms of support.
Tofig Abbasov
Translated from Minval.az
