Azerbaijan emerges as regional mediator in Middle East’s energy diplomacy Ilham Aliyev’s interview in focus

The Dubai-based TessaWorld media platform has explored the mediation role of Azerbaijan in the Middle East in its recent article. Caliber.Az reprints the piece with some modification. 

“In a notable development of its regional role, Azerbaijan announced its mediation between Israel and Syria, revealing strategic energy agreements with Damascus. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev appears determined to transform his country into a key player in the complex equations of the Middle East.

Aliyev confirmed (in an interview with Al Arabiya - ed.) that a secret meeting took place between Syrian and Israeli officials in the capital Baku, marking the first of its kind since the overthrow of the Assad regime in late 2024. This mediation comes at a time when the Syrian-Israeli border is witnessing repeated incursions, with the Israeli army having entered the Quneitra Governorate four times just in August.

Aliyev revealed a quadrilateral agreement (Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Syria-Qatar) for gas supply, with the first phase starting in August, supplying 3.4 million cubic meters daily. This agreement represents a lifeline for the ailing Syrian economy and opens the door for broader regional cooperation in the energy sector.

With Qatari funding, Azerbaijani gas will be directed to operate Syrian power plants, which may help alleviate the chronic electricity crisis that Syrians have been suffering from for years.

Aliyev also announced his country's readiness to mediate between Türkiye and Israel, after successfully supporting the normalization of relations between them in the past. This issue poses a complex diplomatic challenge given the deep disagreements between Ankara and Tel Aviv.

In a surprising statement, Aliyev expressed his support for awarding U.S. President Donald Trump the Nobel Peace Prize, describing him as "the leader who wants peace." This position reflects an undeclared alliance between Baku and Washington on several regional issues.

Despite Azerbaijani ambitions, this mediation faces significant challenges:

- The depth of historical Syrian-Israeli disagreements

- The complexity of the Iranian nuclear file and its impact on the region

- Russia's stance on any regional settlement that does not guarantee its interests

The Azerbaijani mediation represents a new model of regional diplomacy, where countries previously considered secondary actors become key players in peace-making. However, its success will depend on its ability to transcend traditional alliances and create new equations that serve the interests of all parties,” the article reads.