Georg Georgiev at the XII Baku Forum: Middle Powers Must Play a Greater Role in International Relations
14 March 2025 News
"The mission of middle powers is to play an increasingly important role in international relations and to form a new multilateralism that helps solve global challenges." 1 This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during his speech at the XII Baku Global Forum by Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev. The Bulgarian top diplomat made a statement in the panel dedicated to the topic "Middle Powers in a Multipolar World – Shaping Global Governance and Influence."
"Our world is facing constant geopolitical upheavals. Never before in the world since World War II have we had a full-scale war in Europe, the spread of military conflicts, a fragile global economy, a rapidly warming planet, accelerating loss of nature and biodiversity, a shift in the technological paradigm in the form of AI, that brings immense opportunities, but also significant concern around the world, deepening social inequalities and, last but not least, an increasingly fragmented political space," Georgiev emphasized in his speech. "Finding solutions through negotiations to the conflicts around us is crucial for global security and stability," he further stressed.
In his speech, Georg Georgiev also stated that values such as peace, prosperity, and human dignity, based on democracy, good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and commitment to dialogue and cooperation are not exclusively "European" or "Western" but universal and matter to everyone – both small and large. "They are the compass that allows us to navigate the complex terrain of international relations in a truly interdependent world," he emphasized.
In this sense, in his speech to the forum, the minister also stated that the Transatlantic Partnership between the EU and the USA is lasting and based on a community of values shared by all humanity. "This strategic partnership, which has defined world peace, stability, and prosperity since the end of World War II, is as necessary as ever. Europe and the European Union must continue to engage constructively and strategically with the US administration. This is a political necessity if we are to achieve what I hope is a common goal for all of us today – a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and international law," Georgiev said and stressed that Bulgaria welcomes President Trump's decisive commitment to stop Russia's aggression against Ukraine and reach a solution through negotiations.
"The European project is a project for peace and prosperity, a project that supports stability, values sustainability, and protects equality in all partnerships in which the Union participates," Georgiev emphasized and gave examples of ambitious policies in areas such as energy diversification and connectivity, in which the EU is a leading force, and green energy projects and the wider connectivity agenda represent a key component of cooperation between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. "In a future where energy demand will be ever greater, we must ensure that our energy supplies are sustainable, affordable, and climate-friendly. The partnerships we develop in this regard are clear examples of how security challenges and regional tensions can be transformed into opportunities for economic progress and cooperation," Georg Georgiev further emphasized in his speech to the forum participants.
The Baku Global Forum is organized by the Nizami Ganjavi International Center – the most authoritative and active non-governmental organization in Azerbaijan. The main goal of the forum is to promote dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures and to provide a platform for discussions on current international topics.
This year's edition of the forum is themed "Remaking the World Order: Turning Challenges into Opportunities," with participants discussing topics such as changes in the global security environment and the need for enhanced international cooperation and reforms, the future of Europe and Ukraine, the Middle East issues, and high technologies in the new world order in the individual panels.
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