Baku: Garabagh War veteran and Baku State University professor Guivami Rahimli, who specializes in energy security and regional diplomacy, has penned an insightful article titled 'From Symbol to Strength: The Handprint That Became an Iron Fist.'
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Rahimli's article delves into how Azerbaijan's oil strategy has served as a fundamental pillar for the nation's strength, significantly contributing to economic growth, enhancing defense capabilities, and ultimately aiding in the liberation of territories during the 44-day war that restored Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
AZERTAC has published this article, emphasizing Azerbaijan's pivotal role in global energy security and its status as a reliable partner for Europe's energy future. The narrative highlights the challenging early years of Azerbaijan's independence, marked by complex crises such as territorial occupation by Armenian forces, post-independence instability, and economic decline.
During these turbulent times, Heydar Aliyev's return to politics was a turning point. He implemented a pragmatic foreign policy that balanced interests among global powers and powerful neighbors. Azerbaijan's multi-vector policy thus emerged, focusing on economic, energy, and military cooperation without aligning with any specific geopolitical bloc. Heydar Aliyev's foresight in developing oil and gas projects led to contracts with foreign oil companies, setting Azerbaijan on a path of stability and economic growth.
President Ilham Aliyev has effectively continued and expanded the multi-vector foreign policy pioneered by Heydar Aliyev. This approach has anchored Azerbaijan's sovereignty through balanced diplomacy, laying the groundwork for the vibrant and prosperous nation Azerbaijan is today. Since 2006, energy export revenues have been strategically invested to accelerate economic growth, diversify the economy, and expand the non-oil sector. These resources have also been crucial in strengthening Azerbaijan's military, culminating in the liberation of Garabagh and the restoration of the country's internationally recognized territorial integrity under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.
Caspian oil and gas developments are now among the largest energy projects globally, unlocking the Caspian reserves and delivering them to world markets. The Sangachal terminal serves as a strategic hub for these developments, being the largest integrated oil and gas terminal from which all export pipelines from bp-operated offshore fields originate, playing a critical role in global energy security.
Currently, three major oil and gas pipelines have their origins at the Sangachal terminal, bypassing Russia and Iran. These include the BTC pipeline, the Baku-Supsa pipeline, and the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC). These pipelines provide a new energy map for Europe, with President Ilham Aliyev highlighting their significance at the SGC inauguration ceremony. The SGC is a cornerstone of Europe's energy security architecture and a significant global oil and gas sector project, providing southeastern Europe an alternative energy source amid the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Azerbaijan as a crucial energy partner, reliable for both supply security and efforts to achieve climate neutrality. The Sangachal Terminal, bp's largest onshore asset, offers insight into the history and scale of oil production in Azerbaijan, starting from the Caspian Energy Center, inaugurated by President Ilham Aliyev and Prince Andrew in 2005.
During the opening ceremony of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, high-ranking officials left their handprints on plaster bricks as a gesture of global cooperation and new beginnings. President Ilham Aliyev's handprint, notable for its size and presence, symbolizes Azerbaijan's success. Visitors to the terminal often engage in a tradition inspired by this handprint, believing it to convey success.
The symbolic handprint has garnered interest from world leaders. In 2024, President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo visited the Sangachal Terminal, paying tribute to Azerbaijan's achievements by placing his hand on President Aliyev's handprint. Similarly, in 2025, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud expressed admiration for Azerbaijan's accomplishments, recognizing the handprint as a source of inspiration for Somalia's future.
Thus, Ilham Aliyev's handprint at the Sangachal Terminal has evolved into an 'iron fist,' symbolizing Azerbaijan's military strength and determination, culminating in a historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of a symbolic gesture into a manifestation of national strength.