Israeli media: Baku deserves US recognition as a strategic partner

The Israeli news outlet, The Jerusalem Post, has published an article by Mordechai Kedar, a commentator on the Middle East, highlighting Azerbaijan's strategic balancing act between its close allies – Türkiye and Israel, and expressing hope for improved US-Azerbaijan relations under President Donald Trump. Caliber.Az shares with its readers an adapted version of the piece.

Throughout the past 20 years, the relationship between Türkiye and Israel has seen many ups and downs. However, the current low point in diplomatic ties and the heightened tensions may be unprecedented.

Türkiye is Azerbaijan’s closest ally, their bond often described as “one nation, two states.” At the same time, Israel is considered a loyal friend of Azerbaijan. The countries cooperate in defence, science, telecommunications, agriculture, and other areas.

Beyond Azerbaijan’s noble goal of regional peace through its close ties with both Türkiye and Israel, Baku may show interest in the Abraham Accords. While the accords were originally designed to normalise relations between Israel and Arab states, Baku saw something others missed: the US is also a party to the Abraham Accords. Azerbaijan hopes that joining the Accords will not only strengthen its ties with Israel and the Gulf states but also elevate its status in Washington.

In the 1990s, during the First Karabakh War, the US imposed an arms embargo on both Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, Armenia enjoyed preferential treatment thanks to a strong Armenian lobby in Washington. The situation deteriorated further in November 2023 when the US Congress passed the “Armenia Protection Act of 2023” under the Biden administration, which banned US arms sales to Azerbaijan and blocked all legal avenues to do so.

Now, with Donald Trump back in the White House, Azerbaijan is hopeful for a shift in American policy. From Baku’s perspective, the road to Washington runs through Jerusalem – a convenient route, given the warm and close ties between Azerbaijan and Israel.

As part of this deepening relationship, Azerbaijan has sought stronger integration with Israel, particularly in the energy sector. In January, Azerbaijan’s state oil and gas company SOCAR acquired a 10% stake in Israel’s Tamar gas field. In March, SOCAR signed a gas exploration agreement with Israel’s Energy Ministry, receiving a license to search for gas in Israel’s northern economic waters.

For many years, Azerbaijan has been a steadfast friend to Israel and this did not change even after October 7. It deserves recognition from the United States as a key strategic partner. Azerbaijan mediates conflicts, collaborates closely with Israel, and just as it remains loyal to Jerusalem, it is ready to be a loyal partner to Washington as well.

By Khagan Isayev