In a significant development highlighting the strong alliance between Azerbaijan and Russia, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan received Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, in Baku. The meeting addressed a wide range of issues related to bilateral cooperation and regional security. President Aliyev emphasized that the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, since the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction, have proven to be truly allied in nature. The President expressed confidence in further strengthening cooperation in various fields such as regional security, economic ties, and transportation.

During the meeting, Secretary Patrushev conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Aliyev. In response, President Aliyev thanked Patrushev and requested him to convey his own greetings to President Putin. The discussion further extended to the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, where President Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the state-level events held in Russia on this occasion. Patrushev acknowledged the deepening of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia since the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction.

Global and regional issues, as well as cooperation within international organizations, were also on the agenda. President Aliyev stressed the importance of resolving regional issues in the 3 3 format with the participation of regional nations and highlighted the conducting of meetings in this format at respective levels. In light of recent developments, including Azerbaijan's successful military operation to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh, the meeting assumed greater significance. The Azerbaijani offensive resulted in most of the ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh leaving for Armenia, altering the geopolitical landscape in the region. Overall, the meeting between President Aliyev and Secretary Patrushev reaffirmed the strong alliance between Azerbaijan and Russia, emphasizing their commitment to regional security, stability, and continued cooperation in various spheres.