The Head of the Department of Political Science and Philosophy participated in a visit to Washington as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), organized by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State from February 14–21, 2026. This year's program was dedicated to the theme "U.S. Foreign Policy and Global Challenges" and coincided with the inaugural meeting of the "Board of Peace," among whose founding members is Azerbaijan. Another notable feature of the program, which has been running since 1940, was that this year's event marked the 250th anniversary of the United States' declaration of independence on July 4, 1776.

Participants from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia, Italy, Sweden, Malta, Slovakia, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Latvia, and the Czech Republic were selected from among professionals representing various fields, including academia, government institutions, journalism, and non-governmental organizations.

As February 16 coincided with an official public holiday, a city tour was organized following the welcome reception for the delegation. Visits were made to the White House, the U.S. Congress, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

The intensive phase of the Washington program commenced on February 17. Participants first visited the Meridian International Center, which played a key role in organizing the program. Official meetings and sessions were subsequently held with the Pentagon, the Department of State, the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the American Enterprise Institute, and American University. In addition to a meeting with the academic faculty at American University, discussions held with students representing various countries across the United States and Europe were of particular interest.

The program also includes planned visits by Assoc. Prof. Valiyev to Cleveland, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Denver, Colorado.