Azerbaijan, Italy Strengthen Strategic Ties in Joint Press Statement
Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed their countries’ strong strategic partnership and pledged to deepen cooperation across energy, defense, trade, and education during joint press statements in Baku on Sunday.
Welcoming the Italian premier, President Aliyev described the visit as a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties, noting that Azerbaijan and Italy are bound by strategic partnership agreements signed in 2014 and 2020. He highlighted that Italy remains Azerbaijan’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $12 billion last year.
Energy cooperation continues to serve as a cornerstone of relations, with Azerbaijan ranking among Italy’s leading suppliers of oil and gas. Aliyev revealed that Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2024, including 9.5 billion cubic meters to Italy, and stressed the need to expand the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) as part of the Southern Gas Corridor to increase supply capacity.
The Azerbaijani president also underscored growing prospects in military-technical cooperation, indicating discussions on joint production initiatives combining Italian technology with Azerbaijani investment. He further noted that around 130 Italian companies are currently operating in Azerbaijan, including 23 projects in the liberated territories of Garabagh and East Zangezur.
Highlighting investment ties, Aliyev said Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund has invested nearly $3 billion in Italy’s economy, with plans to expand into new sectors. He also emphasized the importance of educational collaboration, pointing to the Italy–Azerbaijan University in Baku, which currently hosts over 500 students.
Prime Minister Meloni, in her remarks, described the visit as a milestone, marking the first official trip by an Italian premier to Azerbaijan in 13 years. She announced that both sides agreed to institutionalize permanent political coordination to guide future cooperation.
Meloni praised Azerbaijan’s role in strengthening Italy’s energy security, particularly following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine War, and called for expanding collaboration not only in energy supply but also in industrial partnerships.
She emphasized Azerbaijan’s strategic importance as a connectivity hub between Europe and Asia and announced plans to hold a bilateral business forum in Baku in the second half of 2026 to translate political ties into economic opportunities.
The Italian premier also highlighted potential cooperation in defense, aerospace, maritime security, and advanced technologies, proposing deeper industrial collaboration to enhance regional stability.
Addressing regional and international issues, Meloni expressed support for normalization efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia and reaffirmed Italy’s backing for stronger engagement between Azerbaijan and the European Union. She also thanked Azerbaijan for facilitating the evacuation of Italian citizens from Iran and for hosting Italy’s temporarily relocated embassy in Baku during a recent crisis.
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to long-term partnership, emphasizing shared interests in energy security, economic development, and regional stability.
The visit underscores the growing depth of Azerbaijan–Italy relations, with both sides aiming to expand cooperation across multiple sectors amid an evolving global geopolitical landscape.
