The Muslim state of the Republic of Azerbaijan established an embassy in Israel a few days ago, thus becoming the first Shia country to open an embassy in Israel since the fall of the Shah of Persia.
As Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen pointed out, Azerbaijan is the first Shia Islamic state to open an embassy in Israel. The two countries have maintained diplomatic relations since 1992, but until now only Israel has had an embassy in the other country (since 1993). Last year, Azerbaijan also decided to open an embassy in Israel and a representative office to the Palestinians in Ramallah.
At a press conference with his counterpart, Cohen welcomed the opening of the embassy as a sign of the continued strengthening of relations. Azerbaijan’s strategic location makes it particularly important and gives it great potential. He and Bayramov agreed to “form a common front against Iran” and also to work together more intensively in the fields of the economy, security, energy and innovation.
During the inauguration ceremony, Eli Cohen said that this was a “historic day” and the beginning of a “new era”; next month he intends to visit the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The Foreign Minister particularly stressed that the Azerbaijani people “can be very proud that there has never been antisemitism towards the Jewish community” within the Shia country.
Bayramov said during the visit that 114 Israeli companies are currently active in his country. Azerbaijan is pleased that Israeli companies are interested in taking part in construction work in the areas Azerbaijan recovered from Armenia, which it calls “liberated”. Azerbaijan wants peace, but Armenia threatens it with aggressive rhetoric.
The minister thanked Israel for its support in the “Patriotic War” against Armenia in 2020. According to the Jerusalem Post, Bayramov did not say a word about Iran during the press conference. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (both of Likud) also met Bayramov. On Thursday, the minister also met President Yitzchak Herzog. At the meeting with Gallant, the Azerbaijani minister “noted the prominent role of defence relations”, according to his ministry.
For Israel, Azerbaijan is important not only as an oil supplier. The Caspian Sea state also shares a border with Iran and has strained ties with Tehran itself. Among other things, the tensions concern the many millions of Azerbaijanis living in Iran. In autumn 2022, both sides held military exercises in the border area.
Observers speculate whether Azerbaijan could provide Israel with air bases for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear programme, which would make Israel’s operation easier. The flight route from Israel to Iran is so long that Israeli aircraft would have to stop over or refuel in mid-air. However, Azerbaijan’s new ambassador to Israel told the Jerusalem Post in early March that his country would not allow its territory to be used against other countries.
