In a geopolitical landscape where most Muslim-majority nations have condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza, Azerbaijan has emerged as a notable exception. Despite the ongoing war, Baku has maintained its diplomatic and economic ties with Tel Aviv, reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership.
Azerbaijan’s relationship with Israel dates back to the early 1990s, when leaders from both nations recognized mutual benefits in energy and defense cooperation. Today, Azerbaijan supplies nearly 40%–50% of Israel’s oil needs through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, ensuring a steady flow of resources even during periods of regional instability. In return, Israel has become a key arms supplier to Azerbaijan, with 60% of Azerbaijan’s arms imports between 2015 and 2019 coming from Israeli manufacturers. These weapons played a decisive role in Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war against Armenia.
The ongoing Gaza war, which escalated after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, has led to widespread condemnation of Israel’s retaliatory actions. While Western allies have expressed concerns over the humanitarian toll, Muslim-majority nations have issued strong denunciations, with some severing diplomatic ties. However, Azerbaijan has remained notably restrained in its criticism. President Ilham Aliyev has called for an end to the “tragedy in Gaza” but has refrained from directly condemning Israel. Baku did vote in favor of a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire, but beyond that, its engagement with Israel has continued uninterrupted.
Several factors contribute to Azerbaijan’s stance. The country shares Israel’s concerns over Islamist extremism, having dealt with radical elements within and around its borders. Additionally, Azerbaijan’s strategic positioning between Iran, Russia, and Turkey makes its alliance with Israel a valuable counterbalance in regional diplomacy.
As the Gaza conflict continues, Azerbaijan’s approach underscores the complexities of international alliances, where economic and security interests often take precedence over ideological alignments. Whether this stance will impact Azerbaijan’s relations with other Muslim-majority nations remains to be seen, but for now, its partnership with Israel remains steadfast.
