The number of countries and organisations that congratulated Azerbaijan on Victory Day on November 8, 2026, has increased. Notably, three of Azerbaijan’s neighbours — Russia, Iran and Georgia — did not send congratulations on the occasion. The United States, China, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) also did not send congratulations.
Why did these countries not send congratulations?
Political analyst Anar Isayev told Globalinfo.az that this should be assessed not as separate diplomatic episodes but in a broader geopolitical context:
“Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day Patriotic War and its full restoration of sovereignty in 2023 fundamentally changed the balance of power in the South Caucasus. This change requires a number of states to reconsider their previous interests and means of influence in the region. The main factor here is the strengthening of Azerbaijan’s position as a new regional centre of power. Russia and Iran are concerned about the decline in their previous influence in the region, while some Western states are concerned about the new realities created by Azerbaijan’s military-political victory. Political solidarity with Armenia is also evident in this approach in certain circles in France and the European Union. The United States and the United Kingdom, meanwhile, are taking a cautious diplomatic stance, mainly within the framework of regional interests, relations with Armenia and the peace agenda. China’s conduct can be explained by its traditional diplomatic neutrality. Georgia’s silence may also be linked to its desire to maintain balance in relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia.”
Anar Isayev
The political analyst said there was no single reason behind the failure of these countries to send congratulations:
“The general logic here concerns the attitude towards the new geopolitical realities created by Azerbaijan. Some states find it difficult to come to terms with these realities, while others demonstrate diplomatic caution in view of their regional interests. The main conclusion is that Azerbaijan’s Victory is not only a military victory but also the formation of a new political reality in the South Caucasus. The silence of individual states regarding this historic event can also be seen as a diplomatic signal that this reality has not yet been fully accepted internationally. However, it would be wrong to automatically view the absence of congratulations as hostility towards Azerbaijan.”
Leman Imran
Globalinfo.az
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