What is behind Israeli Defence Minister's visit to Baku? Goltsman and Mollazade talk to Caliber.Az

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant's visit to Baku is undoubtedly a landmark event in Azerbaijan's political agenda. It can't be called a passing and formal one. It is clear that Israeli officials of this level do not visit any state for nothing, and if they come to our capital, it means that the relations between the two countries in the military sphere are aimed at a very serious prospect.

Therefore, in addition to the information in the media about Gallant's spectacular morning run along Baku Boulevard, we would like to know, as far as possible, the purpose of the visit of the Israeli minister. Especially since the visit was large-scale and substantial - Gallant met not only with his counterpart - Azerbaijani Defence Minister Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, as well as the head of the State Border Service Colonel-General Elchin Guliyev but also with the country's President Ilham Aliyev.

Israeli journalist and publicist, head of the International Relations Commission of the Union of Journalists of Israel Rostislav Goltsman said in a conversation with Caliber.Az that the current visit of the Israeli defence minister to Baku is the result of the long cooperation and transition of our countries to a new level of strategic partnership.

"It became clear a long time ago, all that remained was to give relations the necessary impetus, and such an impetus emerged six months ago with the formation of Netanyahu's government. Then, as we remember, followed the visit of President Isaac Herzog to Baku, and now the visit of such an important person as Israel’s defence minister to the capital of Azerbaijan. In my opinion, the fact that Yoav Gallant met not only with the Minister of Defence and the head of the Border Guard Service but also held talks with the head of state is an indicator that this is strategic cooperation. It should be noted that Azerbaijan is already a recipient of the most modern Israeli weapons: very few of our allies have received the same Iron Dome, and even the United States, which was involved in the project at the funding level, received this system only a little earlier than Azerbaijan," Goltsman pointed out.

The Israeli army is now undergoing an important stage of rearmament - it is being equipped with a new generation of weapons, including missile defence systems. The same "Iron Dome" is now being replaced by a system of laser countermeasures against low-flying missiles. And all this is not for nothing. And, as the Israeli expert believes, "Gallant's current visit was certainly necessary because it took place on the eve of negotiations between Israel, Azerbaijan and Turkey on the creation of a common airspace".

"If now the airspace over the Middle East is under Israeli control, then after Azerbaijan and Türkiye join this system, a new air security structure will emerge - from Cyprus to the Caspian Sea and beyond. So, this visit was very necessary, and I think it fully justified itself - the results will not be long in coming," Goltsman said.

Jeyhun Mollazade, former Charge d'Affaires of Azerbaijan to the United States and member of the board of the United States Azerbaijanis Network (USAN), told Caliber.Az that Gallant's visit to Baku attracted the attention not only of Azerbaijani but also of the world media. He said the visit was closely followed by the neighbouring countries, some of which are jealous and hostile to the strategic relationship built between Azerbaijan and Israel.

"It is no longer a secret that from about 2016 to 2020, about 60 per cent of military, defence weapons with the latest technical innovations Azerbaijan purchased from Israel, and these supplies accounted for 17 per cent of Israel's total military-technical exports. And in 2020, Azerbaijan successfully liberated its lands in the 44-day war, and it was Israeli weapons and technology that played a huge role in this.

Israel and Azerbaijan share concern regarding the actions of our country's southern neighbour Iran, which calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and at the same time undertakes various terrorist provocations on Azerbaijani territory. Recently, an Iranian citizen of Afghan origin was arrested, who intended to carry out a terrorist attack on the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan," the political scientist said.

Thus, in his opinion, Gallant's visit is related to the fact that Azerbaijan and Israel are strengthening their ties in the defence industry, monitoring and protection of their borders. According to Mollazade, we can confidently say that Israel has made its choice - it is cooperation with Azerbaijan aimed at strengthening security and eliminating common threats. And this co-operation should expand.

Azerbaijan and Israel, according to Mollazade, also jointly produce armaments in Azerbaijan. That is why it was no coincidence that Gallant met with key figures of Azerbaijani politics - President Ilham Aliyev, Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov, Border Troops Commander Elchin Guliyev, the political scientist said. During the visit, they discussed cooperation in strengthening peace and security in the region, in anti-terrorist activities and deployment of the production of electronic equipment to strengthen the borders on the territory of Azerbaijan.

"I am convinced that it is a great achievement of Azerbaijan to create a high level of trustful relations with such a technically advanced and strong state in the Middle East as Israel. It is also significant that cooperation with Israel in this complex region is supported by countries such as the UK and the US. And it is certainly significant that Azerbaijan's most important ally and partner, Türkiye, also endorses it. After the NATO summit, where President Erdogan put even more emphasis on cooperation with his European partners, it is clear that all this will only strengthen the ties of the three powers of the Middle East: Israel, Azerbaijan and Türkiye," Mollazade emphasised.