Azerbaijan and Syria explore deeper cooperation across key sectors

On April 17, as part of the 5th Antalya Diplomatic Forum, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the Transitional President of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmed Al-Sharaa. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the prospects of bilateral relations and a number of issues of mutual interest. They also discussed the importance of mutual visits and contacts at various levels in advancing relations between the two countries.

According to Stabil.az, Azerbaijan-Syria relations have passed through different stages over the years and have been shaped by regional and international political dynamics. In particular, recent developments, including Syria’s post-war reconstruction phase and Azerbaijan’s growing regional role, have contributed to the gradual reactivation of ties between the two countries.

First of all, it should be noted that the civil war that began in Syria in 2011 and lasted for many years effectively led to the freezing of bilateral relations. During the conflict, Syria fell into international isolation, and Azerbaijan, like many other countries, reduced active engagement with Damascus to a minimum. At the same time, Azerbaijan, guided by the principles of international law, consistently expressed support for Syria’s territorial integrity in various international forums. This position aligns with Azerbaijan’s general foreign policy approach, as Baku attaches particular importance to the principle of territorial integrity and its protection at the international level.

In recent years, however, the reduction in the intensity of military operations in Syria and steps toward the restoration of stability in the country have created new opportunities for cooperation. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan’s approach toward Syria has also begun to evolve, with humanitarian cooperation and potential participation in reconstruction efforts increasingly coming onto the agenda.

It should be noted that since December 2024, concrete steps have been taken to develop relations between the two countries following the changes that occurred in Syria.

In this regard, it is worth recalling that since August last year, Azerbaijani natural gas has been transported to Syria via Turkish territory. This development represents a clear example of a meaningful contribution to Syria’s energy security.

There is also significant potential for further cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. Azerbaijan, as an energy-exporting country, plays an important role in the region and is actively involved in alternative energy projects as well. It is well known that Syria’s energy infrastructure has been severely damaged as a result of the war. In this context, Azerbaijan’s technical assistance and investment capacity could make a substantial contribution to the restoration of Syria’s energy sector in the future.

Humanitarian cooperation has also become one of the key areas of recent engagement between the two countries. On December 30, 2024, in response to humanitarian challenges in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the first humanitarian aid convoy departed from Azerbaijan to Syria. The convoy delivered approximately 200 tons of food and food products.

In addition, Azerbaijan has been providing assistance to Syria in the field of education. Within this framework, support is being extended for the construction and renovation of schools that were destroyed or damaged during prolonged armed conflicts in Syria.

On February 17, at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev, Syrian Minister of Education Dr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Turko, and ICESCO Director General Dr. Salim bin Muhammad al-Malik signed the “Agreement on Strategic Partnership for the Restoration of Educational Infrastructure in the Syrian Arab Republic between the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Education of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture”.

According to the agreement, the Republic of Azerbaijan will support the restoration of Syria’s educational infrastructure through the construction of around 10 new school buildings and the renovation of approximately 100 damaged schools.

Looking ahead, Azerbaijan-Syria relations may become more systematic and multifaceted, creating new opportunities for both bilateral cooperation and broader regional engagement.

Azerbaijan’s large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts in its liberated territories have attracted significant international attention. This experience may, to some extent, serve as a model for Syria. The expertise gained by Azerbaijani companies in infrastructure development, energy supply, and urban planning could potentially be utilized in Syria’s future reconstruction process.

Although economic cooperation between the two countries remains at a relatively low level, the potential for growth is considerable. Expanding trade turnover, developing cooperation in logistics and transport, and increasing the exchange of agricultural products are seen as key areas for future development. Azerbaijan’s growing role as a transit country could also be important in integrating Syria into regional trade and transport routes.

Stabil.Az