Azerbaijan has strengthened its strategic partnership with Israel through a new energy deal, highlighting its growing influence in the Middle East. Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, acquired a significant stake in Israel’s Tamar gas field, deepening economic ties between the two nations. This move reinforces Azerbaijan’s long-standing role as a key energy supplier to Israel, which has relied on Baku for more than 60 percent of its gasoline needs.
Beyond energy, Azerbaijan and Israel maintain extensive cooperation in defense and intelligence, with Baku purchasing advanced Israeli military technology, including missile systems and surveillance satellites. The latest deal positions Azerbaijan at the center of regional alliances that align with Israel and the broader Western security framework. Analysts suggest that Baku’s ability to maintain ties with Israel, Turkey, and other regional players makes it a crucial partner in shaping the evolving Middle East landscape.
The agreement also plays into former U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for a “New Middle East,” which seeks to shift security responsibilities to local allies while countering Iran’s influence. Azerbaijan’s proximity to Iran and its alignment with pro-Western interests place it in a strategic position to influence regional security dynamics. With the SOCAR investment in Israeli energy and its deepening defense ties, Azerbaijan is emerging as a critical player in the geopolitical realignment of the region.
Azerbaijan’s state oil company to buy 10% stake in Israel’s Tamar gas field
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As a frequent visitor to Azerbaijan, and the President of US-AZ Cultural Foundation (https://www.us-az-culturalfoundation.com/) here are two op-eds I wrote long before what is transpiring now:
When drinking the Azerbaijani delicious traditional tea, something is injected into the person consuming the tea inner sense, making him or her grasp the fact that this country is heading toward being an effective influencing factor in global stability.
Azerbaijan: Regional Force of Stability & Connectivity – By Nurit Greenger | February 12, 2020 – https://newsblaze.com/world/eurasia/azerbaijan-regional-force-of-stability-and-connectivity_161558/
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Azerbaijan And The West Need Each Other — An eye-opening trip to a strategically important, if often overlooked, nation. By Nurit Greenger | Fri May 5, 2023 – https://newsblaze.com/world/eurasia/azerbaijan-and-the-west_190954/
