Israel’s new envoy departs for Baku to begin diplomatic mission

Israel’s newly appointed ambassador to Azerbaijan, Ronen Krausz, is set to arrive in Baku this evening, marking the beginning of his diplomatic mission in the South Caucasus nation.

Krausz is travelling aboard an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flight and is expected to formally present his credentials in the coming days—initially to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The appointment follows the departure of his predecessor earlier in the day, signalling a smooth transition at a time of continued cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan across diplomatic, security, and energy sectors.

Sources familiar with the ambassador’s programme indicate that Krausz is also planning an official visit to Krasnaya Sloboda, the historic Jewish settlement in the Guba district, which symbolises the centuries-old presence of Jewish communities in Azerbaijan.

To recall, Israel’s outgoing Ambassador to Azerbaijan, George Deek, underscored the strengthening of bilateral ties during his six-year tenure, expressing confidence that his successor, Ronen Krausz, will prioritise expanding economic cooperation.

Speaking at his final press briefing in Baku on 25 July, Deek described the Israel-Azerbaijan relationship as “deeply diversified,” noting that it had grown beyond its traditional focus on energy and security to encompass increasingly dynamic business relations.

“The opening of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tel Aviv in 2023 was an important milestone and a major achievement for relations between the two countries,” he said.

Deek also highlighted the potential for expanded trade, stating: “I think that $243 million in bilateral trade, excluding oil, is not enough, even though it’s twice the figure from 2021. This number should be multiplied by five or six times for us to truly reach a normal level.”

He voiced optimism about Israeli companies playing a greater role in Azerbaijan’s reconstruction and development efforts in Karabakh.

Appointed in 2018, Deek was Israel’s first Arab Christian ambassador. During his term, he advanced cooperation in trade, defence, energy, agriculture, and technology.

By Aghakazim Guliyev