SOCAR expands US, Israel energy ties in talks with American Jewish delegation Photo

Azerbaijan’s state energy company SOCAR has highlighted expanding cooperation with the United States and Israel in energy and strategic infrastructure projects during talks with a senior delegation of American Jewish leaders.

SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf met on February 12 with a delegation led by Betsy Berns Korn, Chair of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Discussions focused on trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, the United States and Israel, particularly in the energy sector, Caliber.Az reports per SOCAR. 

The sides underscored the importance of the recently signed “Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America,” saying it would strengthen long-term cooperation in energy, including projects involving U.S. companies. They also reviewed SOCAR’s ongoing joint initiatives with American partners.

Israel was described as one of the main export destinations for Azerbaijani oil during the talks. SOCAR’s expanding footprint in Israel was also discussed, including its acquisition in 2025 of a 10% participating interest in the Tamar offshore gas field.

In addition, SOCAR secured licenses to conduct drilling operations in a new area of the Leviathan field in partnership with bp and Israel’s NewMed Energy, marking a further deepening of Azerbaijani-Israeli energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Najaf briefed the delegation on SOCAR’s transformation from a traditional oil and gas producer into a diversified international energy company. He outlined the company’s decarbonisation targets and stressed that sustainability and social responsibility are being integrated into upstream projects as part of its long-term strategy.

The meeting also addressed the strategic importance of energy transit routes along the Middle Corridor, linking the Caspian region to Europe. Azerbaijani gas is currently exported to 16 countries, including 10 European Union member states, underlining Baku’s role as a key supplier to European markets amid shifting regional energy dynamics.

By Sabina Mammadli