Berlin looks to host Aliyev as Azerbaijan-Germany ties gain momentum

Germany expects Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to visit Berlin in the near future, German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ralf Horlemann said during his farewell meeting with Azerbaijani journalists.

According to the diplomat, the Azerbaijani leader has already been invited to Germany, and Berlin hopes the official visit could take place this year. A specific date has not yet been set.

Horlemann noted that political dialogue between the two countries remains active. Annual political consultations have already been held this year, while in 2027 the sides are expected to continue both political consultations and the work of the high-level Azerbaijan-Germany working group on trade and investment.

Speaking about the broader state of bilateral relations, the ambassador described ties between Azerbaijan and Germany as stable, pragmatic and steadily developing. He recalled that the relationship has deep historical roots dating back to the 19th century, when German settlers arrived in Azerbaijan.

Horlemann also pointed to the intensification of high-level contacts in recent years. He noted that the German president visited Azerbaijan for the first time last year, while President Aliyev has visited Germany several times.

The ambassador said one of his main priorities during his mission in Baku was to support the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

He also emphasized Azerbaijan’s role in multilateral diplomacy, referring to the country’s successful hosting of major international events such as COP29 and WUF13.

According to Horlemann, Germany’s current foreign policy under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is based on three key priorities: security, prosperity and freedom. Cooperation with Azerbaijan, he said, continues to develop within this framework.