Israel seeks to expand trade ties with Azerbaijan, FM Saar says

Israel aims to deepen its trade and economic relations with Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said during a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, in Baku, local media reports.

"That is why we came to Azerbaijan with a high-level delegation, which includes more than 40 officials from Israel's Ministry of Economy alone. At the same time, as you noted, tourist flow between our countries has already increased, and we expect further growth in 2026," he emphasised.

Israel and Azerbaijan have significantly expanded their cooperation across multiple sectors since establishing diplomatic relations, Saar said. The opening of the Israeli embassy in Baku three years ago was a key step in strengthening their strategic partnership.

The Israeli minister added that both countries are committed to peace and invited Bayramov to visit Jerusalem. “I look forward to welcoming you. Together, we can take our strategic partnership to new heights,” he said.

Sa’ar has congratulated Azerbaijan on its progress in normalising ties with Armenia, achieved with the mediation of US President Donald Trump.

He credited the results to the balanced domestic and foreign policies of President Ilham Aliyev. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s visible development and prosperity, noting that the Jewish community enjoys stability and security.

Sa’ar also said joint Israeli-US efforts under President Trump have rolled back Iran’s nuclear ambitions, contributing to regional security. He stressed that Israel opposes Iran possessing weapons of mass destruction under any circumstances.

By Aghakazim Guliyev