External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday, 23 October said that India and Azerbaijan share a common interest in promoting peace, progress, and prosperity, describing terrorism, conflict, and instability as 'common enemies' of both nations. Speaking alongside Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov at a joint press statement in Baku, Jaishankar outlined a wide-ranging agenda covering bilateral trade, regional security, connectivity, and the ongoing crises reshaping the Global South.

On the Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Process

Jaishankar reaffirmed India's support for the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia reached in August last year, expressing hope that it would lead to 'the establishment of a durable peace.' He underscored India's consistent diplomatic position: 'disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy.' The two ministers also reviewed developments across the Middle East, West Asia, Europe, and Eurasia, assessing what Jaishankar called the 'global implications of these conflicts' — particularly their cascading impact on Global South economies in 'food, fuel, fertiliser and finance.'

Bilateral Trade, Investment and Energy Cooperation

The two sides discussed expanding economic ties, with Jaishankar pointing to 'complementary economies' as a strong foundation for deeper trade and investment. Energy cooperation was also on the table, though specific terms were not disclosed. On air connectivity, he noted that while daily flights already operate between the two countries, both sides agreed to explore ways to grow that further. Jaishankar described the globalised economy as making connectivity 'so important' and called for deeper people-to-people and cultural exchanges to build a 'more contemporary partnership.'

INSTC: A Strategic Corridor Both Nations Prioritise

A significant portion of the talks focused on the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade route linking India, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Jaishankar confirmed that both countries 'agreed today that we will coordinate more closely' on the corridor. The INSTC has gained renewed strategic urgency as global shipping routes face disruption from geopolitical tensions, and India views it as a vital alternative pathway to Central Asia and Europe.

Gratitude for Evacuation Support, Meeting with President Aliyev

Jaishankar placed on record India's 'gratitude for your assistance in evacuating Indian nationals, particularly students from Iran earlier in this year during the conflict there' — a public acknowledgement of Azerbaijan's role in facilitating safe passage during the West Asia conflict. He also met Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev earlier in the day, conveying the greetings of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described those talks as 'focussed' and 'forward-looking', covering 'the entire gamut of our ties.' Jaishankar extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Bayramov to visit India at his convenience, signalling intent to maintain momentum in the bilateral relationship.

What Comes Next

The Baku visit marks a notable step in India's deepening engagement with the South Caucasus region, which sits at the crossroads of competing geopolitical interests. With the INSTC, energy diversification, and the Global South agenda all converging, the India-Azerbaijan relationship is being calibrated well beyond its traditional low-key profile. A reciprocal visit by Foreign Minister Bayramov to New Delhi would be the next formal milestone to watch.