Azerbaijan, Czech Republic explore joint defence production projects – President Aliyev

Negotiations are currently underway between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic on specific projects related to the joint production of military-grade products, President Ilham Aliyev said during a press statement with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

“We purchase many military-grade products from the Czech Republic, and at the current stage, negotiations are underway on specific projects regarding joint production,” Caliber.Az quotes him as saying.

Expressing confidence in the expansion of this area, the Azerbaijani leader added: “Azerbaijan ensures its defense potential, including through local production, and in the future, our joint efforts with countries such as the Czech Republic, which has extensive experience in this field, will be of particular importance.”

Describing the Czech Prime Minister’s visit as a sign of growing bilateral ties, President Aliyev highlighted the intensity of political engagement between the two countries.

“This (the visit of the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic – ed.) demonstrates the dynamic development of relations between the two countries. We have a very active political dialogue,” he said.

He also noted that discussions covered a broad range of issues. “Today, an exchange of views was held on many issues, including those of a regional, bilateral, and global nature,” the head of state added.

Energy cooperation was also a key topic of the talks, with the President underlining its strategic importance.

“Naturally, a large part of our cooperation pertains to the energy sector. In this field as well, Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic have been very reliable partners for many years,” President Ilham Aliyev said.

He noted that Azerbaijani oil plays a significant role in the Czech energy market. “Azerbaijani oil is exported to the Czech Republic and holds an important place in the Czech Republic's energy balance.”

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s role as an energy exporter, President Aliyev stated: “Azerbaijan is among the reliable countries exporting its energy resources to global markets. This is also noted by the European Union, which evaluates Azerbaijan as a reliable partner.”

He further added that Azerbaijan’s gas exports have expanded significantly. “Azerbaijani gas is currently exported to 16 countries, 10 of which are members of the European Union. Furthermore, Azerbaijan exports natural gas to countries neighboring the Czech Republic,” the President said.

By Vugar Khalilov