Azerbaijan Joins D-8 as New Member at Cairo Summit

Cairo, The Gulf Observer: Azerbaijan has been unanimously elected as a member of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), marking the first expansion of the organization since its establishment. The decision was announced during the 11th D-8 Summit held on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt, according to a statement from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The ministry attributed this significant milestone to the successful foreign policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev. “Our membership is noteworthy as an outcome of President Ilham Aliyev’s successful and determined foreign policy,” the statement read.

Azerbaijan’s engagement with the D-8 began at the 9th Summit in Istanbul in 2017, where President Aliyev participated as a special guest. At the Cairo summit, Azerbaijan was represented by a delegation led by Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of this development, noting that Azerbaijan’s membership in the D-8, often referred to as the “Islamic Eight,” highlights the country’s growing international influence and reflects the confidence of the global community in Azerbaijan. The D-8 member states collectively represent 60% of the world’s Muslim population and hold significant economic potential.

As a member, Azerbaijan aims to uphold the fundamental principles of the D-8, which include promoting justice and adherence to international law. The country also plans to contribute to fostering security, stability, and prosperity in the region while advancing cooperation in economic, trade, transport, communication, and other key sectors.

The ministry underscored Azerbaijan’s historical role as a bridge between East and West and its status as a cultural, religious, and civilizational hub of the Islamic world. “Azerbaijan’s membership will also strengthen Islamic solidarity, promote Islamic values globally, and combat Islamophobia,” the statement added.

The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation was established on June 15, 1997, at a summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, following an initiative launched at the 1996 Development Cooperation Conference. The founding members of the organization are Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. The D-8 Secretariat is headquartered in Istanbul.

Azerbaijan’s inclusion in the D-8 underscores its commitment to contributing to the shared goals of economic development, cooperation, and solidarity among Muslim-majority nations.