At his swearing-in ceremony on February 14, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev reiterated his commitment to the comprehensive development of Azerbaijan and the defense of its territorial integrity.

He thanked the people of Azerbaijan for their continued trust and support in the presidential election. Aliyev underscored the importance of Azerbaijani solidarity, highlighting the nation's victory in the Second Karabakh War as a “testament to its greatness.” He hailed the contribution of all citizens to this “historic triumph.” 

President Aliyev confirmed the continuation of the process of building a strong army in Azerbaijan. He emphasized the significant allocation of funds for military expenses, as well as the reconstruction efforts in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. The head of state emphasized the creation of a robust military and industrial complex, the first stage of which has been accomplished. He noted that the second stage of this endeavor will be even more extensive, underscoring the nation's commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities and ensuring security in the region.

Speaking on military development, Aliyev stressed the significant role of technological development and superiority in industrial development and military sphere. He stressed the importance of technological progress, which was particularly evident during the Second Karabakh War and the subsequent military operation in Karabakh. Acknowledging the key role of Azerbaijani soldiers in securing victory, Aliyev emphasized the contribution of technical means to the outcome of the conflict. The Azerbaijani leader noted that Azerbaijan emerged from the war with minimal losses, attributing this achievement in part to technological advances.

Regarding relations with Armenia, Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's firm stance on post-war issues and stressed the importance of fulfilling Armenia's obligations. He expressed disappointment over renewed territorial claims and reluctance to abide by agreements reached after the Second Karabakh War. President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering determination, asserting that no external influence could deter the nation's resolve. He stated that Azerbaijan has no territorial ambitions towards Armenia, but expects reciprocity in abandoning unfounded claims. Highlighting the strength of the Azerbaijani military, President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan's victories have been achieved on the battlefield, not through displays of military prowess. He warned Armenia and its supporters against attempts to challenge Azerbaijan's sovereignty. President Aliyev underscored the conditions for a peace treaty, emphasizing the need for Armenia to renounce territorial claims and adjust its legislation accordingly. Addressing potential mediators in Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, President Aliyev rejected the need for external intervention. He asserted that Azerbaijan had resolved its issues independently and urged international actors to focus on their concerns rather than interfering in bilateral relations.

The Azerbaijani head of state also outlined the evolving priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy. He emphasized that the resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, which had dominated previous foreign policy goals, was now largely addressed.

President Aliyev expressed his intention to explore new directions in foreign policy and highlighted the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) as a key priority. He reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to the OTS, describing it as an important international organization due to the common cultural, historical and linguistic ties within the Turkic world. The Azerbaijani leader underscored the strategic importance of the OTS, highlighting the vast geographical, economic and demographic potential of its member states. President Aliyev called for joint efforts to strengthen the organization and position it as a significant actor and power center on the global stage.

In addition, Aliyev stressed Azerbaijan's commitment to leading the global fight against Islamophobia and against neo-colonialism. The President underlined Azerbaijan's stance in supporting efforts to eliminate Islamophobia in the world and standing with nations fighting neo-colonialist ideologies. He reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to eradicate the remnants of neo-colonialism from the world. The Azerbaijani leader warned of the consequences of neo-colonialist actions and said Azerbaijan would respond appropriately to any hostile measures taken against it. President Aliyev expressed confidence that those who conspire against Azerbaijan will regret their actions in the end.

Turning to economic reforms, President Aliyev noted the transformation of Azerbaijan's investment landscape, with significant diversification away from dependence on the oil and gas sector. He highlighted the substantial investments flowing into the non-oil sector and expressed confidence in the positive results expected in the coming years. President Aliyev outlined plans for the economic development of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, highlighting initiatives in agriculture, renewable energy and tourism aimed at strengthening the non-oil sector in these regions. In the area of conventional fuels, President Aliyev highlighted ongoing efforts to stabilize oil production and address concerns through constructive business engagement. He stressed the importance of achieving sustainable oil production to meet national goals and expectations.

President Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's growing export opportunities, particularly to Europe. President Aliyev noted the recent launch of Azerbaijan's new resource base, citing the first gas production from the Absheron gas condensate field, the country's second largest field. He hinted at the imminent start of the second stage of development of this field. In addition, President Aliyev mentioned plans for gas production from the deep reservoirs of the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field next year, which would further strengthen Azerbaijan's resource base. He also referred to proposals by foreign investors to start production from several other oil and gas condensate fields, including Umid, Babek, Shafag, Asiman and Garabagh. President Aliyev refuted earlier reports that Azerbaijan does not have oil and gas reserves, highlighting the country's consistently high oil production since 1997 and its oil exports to many countries. He emphasized that the existence of fields such as Absheron is clear evidence of Azerbaijan's substantial gas resources.