Rising powers worldwide are forging strategic links and partnerships across borders. One of the more noteworthy examples of this trend is the Israeli-Azeri partnership, which spans the Middle East and the Caucasus, two crucial regions.
Given America’s strong relations with Jerusalem and Baku’s increasing regional heft, it makes immense sense for Washington to support this stable partnership and develop ongoing cooperation involving both countries to help stabilize the Middle East and the Caucasus.
Strategic Alliances
Indeed, the foundation of the Israeli-Azeri relationship lies in their shared fear of the militant Shia theocracy. Although Iranian policy may fluctuate tactically, it fundamentally seeks to undermine both states, with Tehran’s hostility toward Israel and the US being overt and consistent.
For Iran’s theocratic dictatorship, secular Azerbaijan, even though it is a Shia country, is seen as an apostate defector from the “true religion” because it leans westward culturally and takes visible pride in its toleration of religious minorities. Moreover, Iran has long been apprehensive that its own Azeri minority, which numbers about 20,000,000 people, could be receptive to Azerbaijan’s mounting economic power, leading to a significant revolt against Tehran. Thus, Iranian forces have recently undertaken hostile maneuvers on the borders, while Iranian newspapers openly speculate about the breakup of Azerbaijan and the loss of its territorial integrity.
These are only the most recent threats. For years, Iranian religious, military, and intelligence figures have engaged in efforts to penetrate, subvert, and overthrow the Aliyev government in Azerbaijan. Iran also seeks to conduct terrorist attacks against Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, which numbers some 30,000. Indeed, last week, Azeri police apprehended drug dealers recruited by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) who were plotting to kill a senior leader of Azerbaijan’s Jewish community.
Iran’s Malign Meddling
Iran has likewise consistently supported Armenia against Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh war and throughout the postwar period since 2020. This applies not only to trade routes and economics but also to arms deals. Thus, Iran’s policies continue to threaten Azerbaijan just as much as they threaten Israel, which Tehran openly vows to destroy. These practices are a well-known Iranian policy obsession marked by its global efforts to kill Jews outside Israel, as exemplified by the recent assassination attempt in Azerbaijan and the infamous 1994 bombing of the Jewish Center in Buenos Aires.
In light of Iran’s attempts to undermine and destroy both Israel and Azerbaijan through economic, military, and terrorist means while pursuing its nuclear ambitions, it is no surprise that both capitals have come together. On this foundation, the two states have built a growing and stable framework of relations that can, in the future, serve their interests and those of the US.
Israel gets 40 percent of its oil from Azerbaijan. Israel is Azerbaijan’s principal supplier of foreign military weapons. Furthermore, an Israeli paper observed that “Intelligence cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel has been pivotal in countering Iranian influence, leveraging Azerbaijan’s strategic location bordering Iran and Russia.” In this regard, Azerbaijan has fostered regional stability by sharing intelligence that complicates or hinders Iranian operations.
Given its alliance with Turkey, which is quite hostile to Israel, Azerbaijan at times had to walk a fine line regarding its position on the war between Israel and Hamas. Nevertheless, that has not deterred Baku from expanding its ties with Israel.
In November 2023, Azerbaijan signed a significant new energy deal with Israel, permitting its national oil company, SOCAR, to explore natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, off Israel’s coast and near the Leviathan gas field. Moreover, in the first quarter of 2024, Azerbaijan exported 28 percent more oil to Israel than in 2023.
Moreover, this alignment enables Washington to counter the Iranian threat and promote US interests in the Middle East and beyond. Azerbaijan is already integrated with the growing Central Asian and transcontinental trade inherent in the possibilities of the Middle Corridor, and Israel is enthusiastic about the potential for its involvement. Both states are engaged partners in enhancing economic activity in Central Asia.
It is undoubtedly in the US interest that American companies and allied nations, rather than Russia and China, assist in facilitating the growing integration of Central Asia and the Caucasus with Europe through trade and investment.
The Israeli-Azeri strategic partnership can help pacify the Middle East, supply energy to Europe as Azerbaijan is already doing, weaken Russian influence, restrain Turkish animosity toward Israel, and open Eurasia to economic development. Moreover, only if Washington fully engages with Azerbaijan can it help Azerbaijan and Armenia reach a final peace settlement regarding Nagorno-Karabakh.
Similarly, the same principle applies to the human rights issue in Azerbaijan; if Washington does not engage, Baku will have no incentive to heed criticisms of its human rights policies.
Nothing is forever in world politics, but this partnership has existed for approximately thirty years and has endured the stresses of the Israeli defensive war with Hamas.
The incoming Trump administration should leverage this positive alignment between Israel and Azerbaijan to enhance American influence and build a more stable and prosperous future for the peoples and nations from the Mediterranean to the Caspian and beyond Asia.
About the Author: Dr. Stephen J. Blank
Dr. Stephen J. Blank is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program. He has published over 900 articles and monographs on Soviet/Russian, U.S., Asian, and European military and foreign policies, testified frequently before Congress on Russia, China, and Central Asia, consulted for the Central Intelligence Agency, major think tanks and foundations, chaired major international conferences in the US and in Florence; Prague; and London, and has been a commentator on foreign affairs in the media in the US and abroad. He has also advised major corporations on investing in Russia and is a consultant for the Gerson Lehrmann Group. He is the author of Russo-Chinese Energy Relations: Politics in Command (London: Global Markets Briefing, 2006), and Natural Allies? Regional Security in Asia and Prospects for Indo-American Strategic Cooperation (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 2005). Dr. Blank is also the author of The Sorcerer as Apprentice: Stalin’s Commissariat of Nationalities (Greenwood, 1994); and the co-editor of The Soviet Military and the Future (Greenwood, 1992).

Patrick
January 23, 2025 at 3:59 am
At the light of the bellow this your article seems somewhat unclear in it’s central statements. The Israeli-Azeri relation is perhaps not so well acceptable for US as you suppose.
Citation from JamNews 17 January 25
“The time has come to completely end USAID’s operations in Azerbaijan,” stated Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. He emphasized that USAID’s activities “did not serve Azerbaijan’s interests but rather aimed to implement the U.S. agenda, attempting to dictate terms to Azerbaijan without considering our legitimate interests.”
… Perhaps Alijev is back to Russia?
Andrew Nichols
January 24, 2025 at 2:59 am
Israel a force for stability? This has to be a sick joke. With Turkey they decisively helped reignite the Nagorno Karabakh war causing a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians. Now the Israelis are setying the rest of the region on fire with a live screened genocide…and you still call them a force for stability.
Tutty
January 24, 2025 at 4:45 am
Loved to read your thoughts which are aligned with mine.
I guess the other factor of this success was Azerbaijans introduction of Israel to other Turkish countries in Asia which are going to be a big power house in the next decades.
Azerbaijans role in Turkey and Irans political arena and influence over their policies are also undeniably powerful.
Considering strong ties which are bounded by Israelis community in Azerbaijan and appreciation of mutual loyal friendship off the books this is a win win for both countries.
I remember reading an article where Ilham Aliyev said the communications with Israel are not public information and core strength lies underneath. He also stated our relationships are like an iceberg.
Michael S. Benlian
January 26, 2025 at 12:59 pm
Tutty, I am not going to ask you about your ethnicity. If you are not either Turkish or Jewish, then it is obvious you lack a lot of information about what is happening with the so called allies, Israel and Azerbaijan and Turkey. Just to remind you that years ago, Azerbaijan along with Turkey blasted Israel and stood against Israeli policies and condemn them for their treatments of the innocent Palestinians. In this issue you did not mention the Genocide that Azerbaijan committed against Armenians. I conclude that in your opinion, it is more important to build allies rather than respect the human values and the survival of innocent people.
Your opinion lacks a lot of direct truth and so I suggest you ask Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds, Palestinians and many others about the behavior of these nomad nations of Turks, and Azerbaijanis who are also of Turkish race as well as of Israelis.I pray that before you look forward, look behind, look at the past and then you can better understand the future.