Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel: classic alliance, strategic partnership, or marriage of convenience

Abstract

Israel and the Republic of Azerbaijan have maintained close relations since 1991. Azerbaijan stands out as one of the few Islamic and mostly Shiite nations that have fostered bilateral strategic and economic ties with Israel. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Azerbaijan’s subsequent independence, Israel swiftly became one of the earliest countries to establish relations with Baku. A significant aspect of this relationship is Israel’s dependence on Azerbaijan for approximately 40% of its crude oil imports, and Baku’s dependence on Israeli arms exports and military support. Notably, Azerbaijan opened an Israel embassy in 2023, navigating a delicate path during the tumultuous 2023–24 Gaza war. This article employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, utilising historical and current data to determine whether the ties between Baku and Jerusalem can be characterised as a marriage of convenience, a classic alliance, or a strategic partnership. The hypothesis presented in this article supports the idea of a strategic partnership. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.