Israeli think tank: Azerbaijan played a key role in facilitating Israeli–Gulf talks before the signing of the Abraham Accords

Published: 2025-06-25 12:12

"The recent breakthrough in talks between Turkey and Israel is not the first mediated by Azerbaijan. Baku played a large role in Turkish-Israeli negotiations for normalizing the relations in 2016, 2018 and 2021. Azerbaijan also played an important role in facilitating meetings between Israeli and Gulf Arab officials before the signing of the Abraham Accords. For Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, managing tensions between its closest allies is crucial. Its relationships with both Israel and Turkey have been vital for its military and economy. Aliyev also recognizes that its stability and success is key to both Israeli and Turkish foreign policy objectives. Both need a stable ally in the South Caucasus that can serve as a buffer to Iranian influence while giving them access to Central Asia," as noted by the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies (MDC), an Israeli think tank.

"Turkey recognizes that Israel plays a large part in supporting Azerbaijan. While Ankara has pushed for global and especially Islamic isolation of Israel, it has allowed for large amounts of Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani oil to cross its territory to be transported to Jerusalem. Lastly, despite the animosity between Turkey and Israel, both parties recognize the need to have a backchannel through Azerbaijan," the think tank adds.

By Azerbaijani-Israeli Alliance Global News