On July 29, 2021, Azerbaijan opened its Trade and Tourism Representative Offices in Tel Aviv, Israel. It’s the first official mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 1992.
“Relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are of a strategic nature and are based on trust and mutual respect,” said the Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov. “Over the past three decades we have witnessed many breakthroughs in relations between the two countries, but the opening of the official Trade and Tourism Representation is another historic event. I would like to congratulate President Ilham Aliyev on this important decision that will further strengthen the partnership between the two countries. It will definitely serve as an address for Israeli entrepreneurs in fields like energy, medicine, water treatment, agriculture and investments.”
This historic step is an expression of a deeply rooted and close friendship shared by the Jewish state and the 95% majority Muslim Republic of Azerbaijan, which has worked closely with Israel across complex and sensitive geopolitics and decades of deepening collaboration to reach today. Although this is an undeniably new and exciting development, it is part of a long diplomatic cooperation. Immediately after reclaiming its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Azerbaijan formed an open, cooperative relationship with Israel, leading into the 1993 opening of an Israeli embassy in Baku.
Perhaps most fundamental to this friendship are the shared values and goals for a peaceful world, where Muslim-Jewish relations not only cease to exist as a source of local and global tension, but can evolve into a force of positive, shared values and cooperation. In Azerbaijan, Jews have lived in total peace and security, free of antisemitism, for over 2,000 years. Today, the 30,000 Jews – both Mizrahi Mountain Jews and Ashkenazim – are not simply “tolerated”, but are completely accepted and ingrained in every aspect of Azerbaijani life, as are the 500,000 Christians and others. Synagogues, Jewish day schools, kindergartens, Yeshivas, and numerous Jewish organizations continue to thrive in Azerbaijan. Jews are represented in all three branches of Azerbaijani government. Multifaith harmony is perhaps our greatest national asset, and it was a clear point of connection to the State of Israel. For many in the Azerbaijani Jewish community, Israel is a close extension of home – where many of us have family and friends. Azerbaijan has not only supported our closeness as Jews to Israel but has actively supported and encouraged it. Multiple direct flights go back and forth between our capital city of Baku and Tel Aviv weekly.
And we share hard resources too. Approximately 40 percent of the oil used in Israel comes directly from Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan shares its expertise with Israel by helping Israel develop its own oil resources, encouraging independence and strengthening the Jewish state, like any real friend would. Aside from oil, today Azerbaijan and Israel trade over $200 million annually and collaborate across a variety of sectors, including telecommunications, defense, construction, tourism, medicine, agriculture, renewables and irrigation.
And we collaborate in strategic and sensitive areas to address the most pressing and dangerous issues of our time: terror and extremism, which are an existential threat to both our nations. Azerbaijan is a staunchly secular majority-Muslim nation that is truly unique to the Muslim world, and the relationship shared with Israel has not come without immense risks, however worthy they may be, especially considering Azerbaijan’s complicated geography and neighborhood. Yet, all these years Azerbaijan has shown consistency and leadership in overcoming these challenges and pressures and remaining true to its friendship with the State of Israel.
Azerbaijan and Israel are invested in continuing to strengthen their friendship so that it can yield more progress and partnership in a world sadly lacking both, building new opportunities for expanding security and prosperity. Now, this first official mission demonstrates how far we have come into today, where we begin to reveal what has been true for many years. And in this revelation, I see a new well of opportunity – a spring of hope to countless others to believe that an alternative future in Muslim-Jewish relations is possible.
For 30 years, Azerbaijan-Israel relations have thrived, turning into a robust friendship and strategic alliance, even in the absence of an official Azerbaijani representation in Israel. Now with this new official mission, this historic step and many more to come, our friendship will be much stronger, continuing to inspire leaders and nations across the globe invested in a real and lasting peace.
