A significant development in the bilateral-strategic relationship between Azerbaijan, a Muslim-majority country, and Israel is taking place. This agreement marks a new milestone in their bilateral relations, strengthening economic and strategic ties.
Azerbaijan, a South Caucasus country, and Israel have reached an agreement in which Azerbaijan, an oil producing country, has received special gas exploration permission in Israel.
On Saturday, March 22, 2025, Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, also serving as the chairman of SOCAR, the country’s national energy company, is set to arrive in Israel, heading a delegation, for a rare visit, during which the gas exploration agreement will be signed.
Mr. Jabbarov will sign the agreement according to which Azerbaijan will partner with British Petroleum (BP) and Israel Yitzhak Tshuva’s NewMed Energy. Yossi Abu, NewMed Energy CEO, has been a major player behind SOCAR’s expansion of its activities in Israel. The parties will be searching for gas in Block I in the northwest of Israel’s economic area waters.
The basis for SOCAR’s entry into the Israeli energy market is to strengthen energy security for both countries as well as expanding further the already existing wide range cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan, this time in the field of energy.
In addition, this move will also contribute to the stabilization of the Middle East. There is the possibility that Azerbaijan will become part of the Abraham Accords. If understood correctly, this majority Shi’ite Muslim country can have an impact on other Muslim countries that are not yet ready to stabilize mutual relations with Israel.
Triangle Relations Cross Continents
The President of the State of Israel Yitzhak Herzog (Bougie) has been serving as a central factor in building a triangular warm relationship between Israel, Azerbaijan and the United States. Noting here that the relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S. have cooled significantly in the last four years.
The latest gas exploration step comes after the early 2025 move when Israeli businessman Aaron Frenkel’s has entered into a most significant deal in which he sold to Azerbaijan state firm SOCAR 10% of Israel’s second-largest gas field, Tamar, at $510m value.
Bilateral Relations Strategy
Does this gas exploration collaboration move symbolize part of Azerbaijan and Israel’s strategy in the face of the Iranian threat? Time will tell.
One sure factor is that Azerbaijan and Israel are actively working to help the United States, along President Donald Trump’s policy, to bring stability in a world that is rather unstable.
To read the entire story here: https://newsblaze.com/world/eurasia/az-israel-bilateral-relations_201995/
