Meloni’s visit to Baku marks new phase in Azerbaijan–Italy relations

On May 4, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Azerbaijan following the conclusion of her visit to Armenia. The trip marked the first official visit by an Italian prime minister to Azerbaijan in 13 years, underscoring its political significance.

According to “Stabil.az,” Meloni’s visit can be regarded as a major political development demonstrating that the strategic partnership between Rome and Baku has entered a new stage. Beyond a diplomatic gesture, the visit served as a platform for aligning concrete interests in energy, economic cooperation, and broader geopolitical engagement.

Italy has long been one of Azerbaijan’s key trading partners in Europe. Cooperation in the energy sector remains the cornerstone of bilateral relations. Italy is a major recipient country within the framework of the Southern Gas Corridor, a strategic initiative that delivers Azerbaijani gas to European markets.

In particular, gas transported via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline plays a crucial role in ensuring Italy’s energy security. Azerbaijani gas is increasingly viewed as a strategic alternative amid Europe’s ongoing efforts to diversify energy supplies.

At present, both political and economic ties between the two countries remain strong. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, speaking alongside Meloni, emphasized the depth of the partnership.

“Italy is Azerbaijan's top trading partner. Last year, our trade turnover amounted to approximately USD 12 billion. Naturally, one of the primary directions of our relations is cooperation in the energy sector. Here, too, we have supported each other as reliable partners for many years. Azerbaijan ranks second in Italy's oil imports and also second in its gas supply. For us, the Italian market is of primary importance for both oil and gas. Last year, Azerbaijan exported 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas, of which 9.5 billion cubic meters was exported to the Italian market. Today, during our discussions, we discussed increasing this volume. For this, it is necessary to expand the TAP project, which is an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor. It has already been expanded to a certain extent, but this process must continue,” the head of state said.

“Our new area of cooperation—military-technical cooperation—is also promising. This issue was also discussed today. We have concrete ideas regarding the implementation of joint projects, the organization of joint production, and the combination of Italian technologies with Azerbaijani financial resources. This matter was discussed in detail. The Italian market is of great interest to us. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Italian economy is developing successfully. Over the past few years, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan has invested approximately USD 3 billion in the Italian economy,” the Azerbaijani leader added.

At the same time, Italy is among the leading investors in Azerbaijan’s non-oil sector. Italian companies are actively involved in infrastructure, construction, agriculture, and industry, and Meloni’s visit is expected to open new opportunities for investment projects while strengthening existing cooperation. Italy also serves as an important transit and trade hub for Azerbaijan’s access to European markets.

On the political front, Baku and Rome consistently support each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty on international platforms, reinforcing the strategic nature of their partnership. Italy is also regarded as a key partner for Azerbaijan within the European Union, playing an important role in facilitating mutual understanding and advancing Azerbaijan’s positions in the bloc.

Humanitarian and cultural ties form another essential pillar of bilateral relations. Cooperation in education, culture, and tourism continues to expand steadily. A notable development in this area is the launch of the Italy-Azerbaijan University in Baku last year, established under the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy in partnership with several leading Italian universities.

In her remarks, Giorgia Meloni emphasized the depth of cultural and societal connections between the two nations.

“Our friendship is rooted in strong relations between our societies and cultural ties. The university established here in Baku, with the participation of President Sergio Mattarella, reflects cooperation with five prestigious Italian universities. This initiative symbolizes our shared commitment to culture, future generations, and strengthening relations between our peoples, alongside the agreements we have reached in areas such as culture and food security,” the premier emphasized.

Meloni’s visit highlights not only the current level of Azerbaijan–Italy relations but also their future trajectory. Energy security, economic cooperation, political dialogue, and cultural exchange remain the main pillars of this partnership.

The existing momentum suggests that Azerbaijani-Italian relations will continue to deepen in the coming years, expanding into new areas of cooperation and contributing positively to both regional and international collaboration.

Stabil.Az