Ilham Aliyev’s historic mission goes beyond just Karabakh victory

It has been 35 years since the Soviet Union and the United States discussed the possibility of the Star Wars program, and now that vision is becoming a reality. The world, which for centuries experienced only battles fought on land, has entered a new era: nations are now striking targets thousands of kilometers away using airspace and space technologies. Humanity is confronting a new reality—the dawn of space warfare.

Against this backdrop, the scale of Azerbaijan’s victory shines even more brightly—achieved amid armed conflicts erupting near our borders, from the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine to the instability in the Middle East and the tensions looming over the South Caucasus. This triumph, which truly shifted the tectonic plates of global politics, was made possible by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, who overcame not only Armenia’s resistance but also challenges posed by far more powerful states.

Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated that the Third World War effectively began after the Karabakh conflict. Today, as the world transitions from a unipolar, Western-centric system toward a multipolar security architecture, it becomes clear that the Azerbaijani leader’s strategic vision and decisions have become a reliable shield for the country—a “Golden Dome” protecting it.

Indeed, Azerbaijan does not act as a proxy for any great power. Yet, even while facing the threat of strategic weapons strikes, its president stands as a protector—not just of Azerbaijan but of the entire Caucasus region.

In the 1990s, tens of thousands of our fellow citizens who crossed the Aras River simply to save their lives have today become a pillar of strength for millions. The head of state who led them to victory is more than just a leader for over forty million Azerbaijanis—he has become a figure who inspires confidence throughout the entire region. Ilham Aliyev’s historical mission, warmly welcomed by thousands in Türkiye and now a symbol for many, goes far beyond the victory in Karabakh.

However, the region is currently engulfed in chaos due to the ongoing military conflict, demanding swift and effective crisis management. Immediate technical, humanitarian, economic, and food security measures are urgently needed, along with solutions addressing industrial, sanitary, and administrative challenges, all supported by thorough preparation. As the use of missile weapons and air strikes intensifies and Western leaders urge their citizens to evacuate cities, the escalation of hostilities and the potential surge of refugees pose a serious threat. The enemy could exploit this situation by turning vulnerable populations into a strategically significant force.

Under the pretext of stabilizing border regions, so-called “corridors” may be established, and foreign military forces could be deployed near civilian infrastructure. There are ongoing efforts to alter the region’s ethnic and national landscape—whether by creating Christian buffer zones or by invoking the idea of Islamic unity to turn our country into a target within the Muslim world and destabilize its internal religious environment. These open and covert political maneuvers are being carried out today with increasing intensity.

Due to the closure of airspace in many countries as a result of the conflict, Azerbaijan has become the only safe transit corridor in the region. The military escalation has sharply increased the demand for international cargo transport, especially along East–West routes—namely, the Middle Corridor—as well as for supply chains connecting to Europe.

Faced with today’s realities, even the first Armenian leader in a hundred years to visit Türkiye sees the opening of the Zangezur Corridor as a lifeline for Irevan.
Today, we appeal to the world: our country has raised churches and synagogues alongside mosques, turning them into places of pilgrimage and reverence. Azerbaijan achieved justice not through UN resolutions, but through the tears of millions of mothers—tears that have become a symbol of our Victory.

Now, our people stand united—with the state and the army—defending both our Victory and the Great Return!

We do not take sides in conflicts; we reject nuclear weapons—we choose peace!

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Zahid Oruj
SRC Chairman