Vasif Huseynov
On March 6, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is engaged in discussions with the United States “to establish a strong foundation for trilateral cooperation between Israel, Azerbaijan, and the U.S.” (The Jerusalem Post, March 6). This statement coincided with debates in the Knesset on “Upgrading the Strategic Alliance between Israel and Azerbaijan” (The Jerusalem Post, March 6). The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted Azerbaijan’s role as a “strategic ally in the Caucasus region,” with bilateral cooperation spanning security, trade, technology, and energy. Israeli National Missions Minister Orit Strock, speaking on behalf of the government, emphasized the unique and long-standing friendship between Israel and Azerbaijan (The Jerusalem Post, March 6).
The proposal for this trilateral format positions Azerbaijan as a crucial bridge between the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and the West. The initiative follows two visits by Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, to Israel in recent months. Hajiyev’s December 2024 visit to Israel was followed by another in mid-February, during which he met with Netanyahu (Report.az, December 9, 2024, February 19). According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, these discussions covered “recent developments in the Middle East and the Caucasus, regional security, and strong bilateral relations between Israel and Azerbaijan” (Report.az, December 9, 2024). Additionally, some reports suggest Azerbaijan may have been mediating between Israel and Türkiye (Caliber.az, December 11, 2024).
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