Past misunderstandings between Azerbaijan and France have been resolved, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he received the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Azerbaijan, Sophie Lagoutte.

This announcement comes at a crucial moment. As we have highlighted during the EPC Summit earlier this month, the event served as a clear signal of a turning point in Azerbaijan–France relations. The developments we are now witnessing confirm that prediction: the prospects for bilateral cooperation are becoming clearer, and both sides appear ready to focus on pragmatic, mutually beneficial engagement.

Azerbaijan has long shaped its foreign relations based on international law and shared interests. Tensions with France had emerged in previous years, largely due to certain French politicians’ biased approach to the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, as well as France’s broader geopolitical posture. French officials, in turn, insisted their policy was “neutral.” However, states do not have permanent friends or enemies—they have strategic partners and rivals with whom they interact according to interests. Today, France seems to have abandoned its........

© AzerNews