Israel's energy cooperation with Azerbaijan, UAE opens new era in Middle East - minister

Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen has said that Israel’s energy cooperation with Azerbaijan and the UAE marks the beginning of a new era in the Middle East.

“Expanding the Abraham Accords, which I believe and hope will happen soon, will go hand in hand with expanding energy cooperation across the Middle East, helping bring a new era to our region,” he said on the second day of the inaugural JNS International Policy Summit on April 28, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Israeli newspaper Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

Highlighting the growing international interest in Israel’s energy sector, Cohen noted: “The United Arab Emirates decided to invest in our gas discoveries. I met the minister of economy of Azerbaijan and the leadership of SOCAR when they came to Israel a few weeks ago and also decided to invest in our energy.”

“Azerbaijan was the first Muslim Shia country to open an embassy in Israel,” Cohen noted. “So we definitely see the energy as a very important and a key factor.”

In March 2025, Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, formalized a gas exploration agreement with Israel. Partnering with BP and Israel's NewMed Energy, SOCAR secured rights to explore Zone I, a 1,700 square kilometer area in Israel's northern exclusive economic zone. SOCAR holds a 33.34% stake and serves as the operator of this consortium. This venture marks SOCAR's first offshore drilling project outside Azerbaijan.​

Additionally, SOCAR acquired a 10% stake in Israel's Tamar gas field, a critical asset supplying about 70% of Israel's electricity generation needs. This investment aligns with Azerbaijan's strategy to expand its energy footprint in the Mediterranean and strengthen its alliance with Israel.

Beyond hydrocarbons, Azerbaijan and Israel are exploring partnerships in renewable energy. In July 2024, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem discussed joint projects in solar and wind energy, as well as the development of interregional green energy corridors. They emphasized the importance of public-private sector involvement to advance these initiatives .​

By Khagan Isayev