Azerbaijan-UK ties move toward strategic partnership, says UK trade envoy VIDEO

Azerbaijan’s role in shaping the Middle Corridor presents “incredible opportunities,” British Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia Lord John Alderdice said, highlighting the development of Azerbaijan-UK ties toward a strategic partnership.

Concluding his visit to the country, the envoy noted that he met with President Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijani government officials, describing the meetings as highly productive, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK Embassy in Azerbaijan.

“🇦🇿 is one of the 🇬🇧's most valued partners in the region. I'm leaving greatly encouraged by what I've seen and confident that #UKAZPartnership will continue to flourish in the years ahead." – said @AlderdiceLord, 🇬🇧 Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan and Central Asia. pic.twitter.com/gXHvSzzdZ0

— UK in Azerbaijan (@ukinazerbaijan) December 16, 2025

“These conversations have been very productive indeed - what has become clear is that we all share an ambition to deepen the UK-Azerbaijan partnership across many of the key sectors of our economies. I am proud that we are deepening our cooperation to a Strategic Partnership,” Alderdice said.

He added that Azerbaijan and the UK collaborate across multiple areas, from clean energy to Middle Corridor infrastructure, including economic diversification, education, and more.

“Azerbaijan’s role in shaping the Middle Corridor presents particularly exciting possibilities. This visit has shown me that there is so much more we can achieve together as Strategic Partners. I am leaving with real enthusiasm and optimism for the UK-Azerbaijan relationship,” Alderdice concluded.

During Lord John Alderdice’s official visit to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev received the UK’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia at the Presidential Palace in Baku, where they discussed the deepening of bilateral relations across political, economic, and strategic sectors, including energy, trade, education, and defence cooperation, underscoring the strong foundation of Azerbaijan–UK strategic partnership.

In their conversation, President Aliyev highlighted recent regional developments and cooperation achievements, including the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and emphasised the ongoing importance of high‑level dialogue and reciprocal visits to further strengthen ties.

These discussions with Aliyev formed part of a broader series of engagements during Alderdice’s visit, which also included meetings with parliamentary leaders, government ministers, and business representatives aimed at expanding UK-Azerbaijan cooperation in key sectors.

By Jeyhun Aghazada