Israel-Azerbaijan Relations: Recognition And Beyond

Azerbaijan has good relations with Israel, and Israel has an embassy in Baku. Azerbaijan is considered one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel, and the two nations have formed a strategic alliance against their mutual foe, Iran. Israel has increased its military assistance to Azerbaijan, and Mossad established a station in Azerbaijan to monitor Iran. However, Azerbaijan also maintains a close and productive relationship with Palestine, and both nations recognized each other in 1992.

Azerbaijan-Israel relations

Azerbaijan and Israel have had diplomatic relations since 1992, following Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union. Israel formally recognised Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991 and established diplomatic relations in April 1992, becoming one of the first countries to do so.

Azerbaijan is one of the few majority-Muslim countries to have developed bilateral, strategic, and economic relations with Israel. It is considered one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel and has been strengthening its ties with Israel since 2011. In 2022, it announced it would be opening an embassy in Israel, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The relationship between the two countries relies on an exchange of oil, arms, and intelligence. Israel buys oil from Azerbaijan, which accounts for around 40% of its oil supply, and in return, sells advanced military equipment to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has also reportedly given Israel access to its land and sea borders with Iran, Israel's rival. Israel has been a major provider of battlefield aviation, artillery, anti-tank, and anti-infantry weaponry to Azerbaijan, and this military assistance has been particularly notable during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.

In addition, both countries have engaged in intelligence cooperation. Israeli intelligence helps collect information on extremist organisations in the region, such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which seeks the annihilation of Israel and poses a threat to both countries. There have also been reports of a Mossad station in Azerbaijan, which may serve as a base for monitoring and potentially taking action against Iran.

Despite the close relationship, Azerbaijan also maintains diplomatic relations with Palestine, which were established in 1992. Palestine has an embassy in Baku, while Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Palestine.

Azerbaijan's recognition of Palestine

Azerbaijan and Palestine established relations in 1992, with both nations recognising each other. Palestine has an embassy in Baku, while Azerbaijan does not have an embassy in Palestine. Despite this, Azerbaijan maintains a close and productive relationship with Palestine.

In 2009, during a visit to Azerbaijan, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said that both countries were trying to restore their territorial integrity, so they must cooperate closely within international organisations. In April 2018, al-Maliki visited Azerbaijan again and said that the Palestinian state and its people support Azerbaijan's position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its settlement within international law.

Azerbaijan is considered to be one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel, which means it is not a steadfast supporter of Palestine, unlike other Muslim nations. However, Azerbaijan has been placed in a precarious position as it tries to balance its close ties with Israel while navigating the global backlash against Israel's offensive in Gaza.

In 2024, Armenia recognised Palestine as a state, which drew rare praise from Turkey, one of the Palestinians' most prominent champions and Azerbaijan's closest ally. This highlighted how Palestine has become another factor in the Azerbaijani-Turkish relationship.

Overall, Azerbaijan has found itself in a delicate situation, attempting to maintain its relationship with Israel while also navigating the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and managing its diplomatic ties with other nations.

Israel's military assistance to Azerbaijan

Israel has been providing military assistance to Azerbaijan since the early 1990s, with the two countries enjoying a strategic relationship that includes cooperation in trade and security matters. Israel has helped modernise Azerbaijan's armed forces and is a major provider of battlefield aviation, artillery, anti-tank, and anti-infantry weaponry to the country.

Israel's military support for Azerbaijan has been particularly notable during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Israel funded and provided weapons and artillery to Azerbaijan during this conflict, and Israeli-made weapons were again deployed by Azerbaijan against Armenian targets during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Azerbaijan's use of Israeli-made weapons in this conflict has drawn criticism and calls for an end to military assistance from some quarters.

The relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan is underpinned by their shared interest in countering the influence of Iran, which both countries view as an existential threat. Azerbaijan has provided Israel with access to air bases and the two countries have jointly examined the use of Azerbaijani air bases and spy drones to support potential Israeli strikes on Iran. Israel has also established a Mossad station in Azerbaijan to monitor Iranian activities.

In addition to military assistance, Israel and Azerbaijan have strong economic ties, particularly in the energy sector. Israel buys 40% of its oil from Azerbaijan, making it Israel's largest oil supplier, and the two countries have moved to abolish double taxation and deepen economic cooperation in recent years.

Israel's diplomatic ties with Muslim nations

Israel has diplomatic ties with 165 of the 192 UN member states, including two of its Arab neighbours, Egypt and Jordan. In 2020, Israel signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with three Arab League countries: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco.

Israel's foreign relations are largely influenced by its strategic situation in the Middle East, the broader Arab–Israeli conflict, and the conflict with Iran, particularly over its nuclear program. Israel's foreign policy goals have therefore been to overcome diplomatic isolation and achieve recognition and friendly relations with as many nations as possible.

Israel has close ties with the United States, which has been a linchpin of its foreign policy since the establishment of the state. Turkey was the first Muslim-majority nation to formally recognize Israel, followed by Iran, which was the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel as a sovereign nation. China concurrently maintains warm relations with both Israel and the Muslim world at large, and Israel has diplomatic relations with five non-Arab Muslim states in Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Israel's relations with Muslim-majority nations are often influenced by broader geopolitical considerations and security interests. For example, during the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Israel increased its military assistance to Azerbaijan, becoming a strange bedfellow with Turkey, with whom it has tense diplomatic and security relations.

Azerbaijan is considered one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel and has been described as "not a steadfast supporter of Palestine." It has maintained a close and productive relationship with Palestine since recognizing each other in 1992.

In summary, Israel has diplomatic ties with several Muslim-majority nations and seeks to foster friendly relations with more, but its relations with Muslim nations are often complex and influenced by broader geopolitical considerations and conflicts in the region.

Israel's foreign relations

Israel has diplomatic ties with 165 out of 192 UN member states as of 12 December 2020. It maintains full diplomatic relations with two of its Arab neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, and in 2020, established ties with three more Arab League countries: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. Israel's close friendship with the United States has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy since its establishment. It is also a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations and its various agencies.

Israel's relations with other countries are driven by its security interests, and it practices both open and secret diplomacy to further its national goals. It engages in commercial trade, science and technology cooperation, imports raw materials, engages in military procurement, exports arms and provides military assistance, and engages in intelligence cooperation with its allies.

Israel has no diplomatic relations with 28 UN member states, including 15 members of the Arab League, 10 non-Arab members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela. Some countries accept Israeli passports and acknowledge Israeli sovereignty, while others do not.

Israel has a unique relationship with Azerbaijan, which is considered one of the closest Muslim countries to Israel. They have formed a strategic alliance against their mutual foe, Iran, and Israel has increased its military assistance to Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.

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