Azerbaijan-Israel Relations: Strategic Alliance Explained

Azerbaijan has been strengthening its ties with Israel since 2011, and in 2022, it announced that it would be opening an embassy in Israel, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two states. Azerbaijan is one of the majority Muslim countries to develop bilateral, strategic, and economic relations with Israel. The two countries have strong partnerships in the fields of energy and defense. Israel has also supplied Azerbaijan with billions of dollars worth of advanced weaponry, which played a crucial role in defeating Armenia in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. In exchange, Azerbaijan supplies Israel with about 40% of its oil needs. The relationship between the two countries serves their strategic objectives and is also influenced by their shared distrust of Iran.

Azerbaijan and Israel have a history of strong diplomatic relations

One key aspect of the relationship between the two countries is their strong economic ties, particularly in the energy sector. Azerbaijan is a major supplier of oil to Israel, meeting around 40% of its needs, and in 2021, Israel imported 65% of its oil from Azerbaijan. In addition, the two countries have cooperated on gas exploration, with the Azerbaijani state oil company obtaining a licence to explore for gas in the East Mediterranean.

Another important aspect of the relationship is the security partnership between the two countries. Israel has supplied Azerbaijan with advanced weaponry and military equipment, which played a crucial role in Azerbaijan's conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In return, Israel benefits from having an expanded foothold in Azerbaijan for intelligence activities against its arch-enemy, Iran.

The strong relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel is also reflected in their shared geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding Iran. Both countries view Iran as a threat, and their cooperation is based on a shared distrust of the country. In addition, Azerbaijan has supported Israel in its efforts to counter Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Despite some criticism of the partnership, particularly from Turkey and Iran, Azerbaijan has continued to strengthen its ties with Israel. In 2022, the two countries marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, and Azerbaijan announced it would be opening an embassy in Israel.

Israel is a valuable ally to Azerbaijan against Armenia and Iran

Azerbaijan and Israel have had diplomatic relations since 1992, when Israel became one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed strong ties, with Israel providing military support to Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia.

Israel and Azerbaijan have a mutual distrust of Iran, which both countries see as an existential threat. Azerbaijan fears Iranian Islamist influence, while Iran is wary of the millions of Iranian Azeris in the country and the potential for Azerbaijani secessionism. This shared concern has been a vital nexus in the relationship between the two countries over the past three decades.

Azerbaijan has also been a reliable supplier of oil to Israel, providing up to 40% of its oil needs. In return, Israel has supplied Azerbaijan with advanced weaponry, which played a crucial role in the country's victory over Armenia in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

The relationship between the two countries extends beyond oil and weapons deals. Israel has also invested heavily in Azerbaijan's media and telecommunications industries, and the countries share intelligence on what they view as extremist organisations in the region.

The Azerbaijani government has been careful to maintain a delicate balance in its relations with Israel and other Muslim-majority countries. While it has not publicly criticised Israel's actions in Gaza, it has also abstained from taking an overtly pro-Israel stance in the mainstream media. Instead, it has issued statements condemning the violence inflicted on civilians by both parties and extending condolences for Israeli and Palestinian losses.

In summary, Israel is a valuable ally to Azerbaijan against Armenia and Iran due to their shared geopolitical interests, military cooperation, economic ties, and intelligence sharing.

Azerbaijan has a large Jewish population

Azerbaijan has a Jewish population of around 30,000, with most residing in Baku and the Qırmızı Qəsəbə settlement in the Quba district. Mountain Jews have been living in Azerbaijan for close to 1,500 years, and are the descendants of Persian Jews. During the Islamic Caliphate conquest, Arabs settled an allied Jewish tribe in the neighbourhoods of Baku. In 1730, Jews were officially allowed the right of residence and property ownership in Quba. There are also around 5,000 Ashkenazi Jews living in Baku. The first Jewish Sochnut school in the Soviet Union was opened in Baku in 1982.

The Jewish population in Azerbaijan has earned the respect of the wider population, and the two groups have a close relationship. This has helped to develop a warm relationship between the country and Israel.

The strong relationship between the two countries is also due to their shared distrust of Iran. Azerbaijan has been resistant to pressure to cut ties with Israel, despite the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Azerbaijan and Israel have strong economic ties

In addition to oil exports, Israeli companies have also penetrated the Azerbaijani market in other sectors. For example, Bezeq, an Israeli telecommunication provider, bought a large share of the telephone operating system in Azerbaijan through a trade contract bid in 1994. Bakcell, a joint venture between the Ministry of Communication of Azerbaijan and GTIB (Israel), was started in 1994 as the country's first cellular telephone operator. Dozens of other Israeli companies are active in the Azerbaijani energy sector, including Modcon Systems Ltd., an Israel-based supplier of high technology to the oil and gas industries, which opened a branch in Azerbaijan. In March 2021, Israeli defence company Meteor Aerospace teamed up with the Caspian Ship Building Company of Azerbaijan to jointly offer advanced defence solutions.

Azerbaijan and Israel abolished double taxation between the two countries in April 2017. According to the Israeli ambassador to Azerbaijan, defence and energy sectors apart, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $260 million in 2016. According to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, the total trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $116.2 million in January-February 2017, 17.5% more compared to the same period in 2016. In 2020, trade between the two countries was approximately $200 million (excluding oil supplies).

Azerbaijan and Israel share a mutual arch-foe, Iran

Azerbaijan and Israel have a mutual arch-foe in Iran, which has led to deepening cooperation between the two countries over the past three decades. This is despite the fact that around 90% of Azerbaijan's population identifies as Muslim.

Azerbaijan and Israel's shared distrust of Iran has become a vital nexus between the two countries. Israel has an expanded foothold in Azerbaijan for intelligence activities against Iran, and after Azerbaijan's victory over Armenia in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azerbaijani officials, including President Ilham Aliyev, laid claim to northwestern Iranian territories, which are home to millions of Iranian Azerbaijanis. This has heightened a sense of unease in Tehran towards its northern neighbour.

Azerbaijan is a major oil supplier to Israel, and in return, Israel has supplied Azerbaijan with billions of dollars' worth of advanced weaponry. This has helped Azerbaijan to strengthen its military and retake territories occupied by Armenia.

In addition to their mutual distrust of Iran, Azerbaijan and Israel also share geopolitical concerns regarding Armenia. Israel has supported Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, providing weapons and artillery.

The relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel serves the strategic objectives of both countries. It allows Israel to counter Iran's aggressive ambitions in the region and use Nagorno-Karabakh as a security buffer. For Azerbaijan, the partnership provides access to advanced weaponry and support in regional conflicts.

Despite some criticism of Israel within Azerbaijan, particularly from the Shia community, the country's government has maintained a deliberate silence on the issue of Palestine, reflecting the lesser significance attached to the issue domestically.

In summary, the shared distrust of Iran, as well as geopolitical concerns regarding Armenia, have led to deepening cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel over the years.

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