Azerbaijan and Czech Republic deepen strategic partnership with focus on energy and defense

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev hosted Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in Gabala on April 27 for one-on-one and expanded talks, followed by joint press statements highlighting the strategic nature of bilateral relations and plans to expand cooperation in energy and defense.

Prime Minister Babiš described Azerbaijan as a “strategic partner” and emphasized the strong and friendly ties between the two countries. “We have very sincere, friendly relations,” he said, noting that Prague is interested in strengthening energy cooperation. According to him, the Czech national energy operator ČEPS is considering purchasing Azerbaijani natural gas, and the Czech side would welcome the signing of a long-term supply contract. He added that the company’s leadership was part of the delegation, underscoring the practical nature of the discussions.

President Aliyev stressed Azerbaijan’s growing role as a reliable energy supplier to international markets. “Azerbaijan is among the reliable countries exporting its energy resources to global markets. This is also noted by the European Union, which evaluates Azerbaijan as a reliable partner,” he said. The Azerbaijani leader noted that the country currently exports natural gas to 16 countries, including 10 EU member states, as well as to countries neighboring the Czech Republic.

Energy remains a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation. Aliyev pointed out that Azerbaijani oil exports play an important role in the Czech Republic’s energy balance and that cooperation in this sector has been stable for many years.

At the same time, the two countries are expanding cooperation in the defense industry. “We purchase many military-grade products from the Czech Republic, and at the current stage, negotiations are underway on specific projects regarding joint production,” Aliyev said. He expressed confidence that this area of cooperation will grow significantly, highlighting the importance of strengthening Azerbaijan’s defense capabilities, including through local production and partnerships with experienced countries such as the Czech Republic.

President Aliyev also noted the dynamic development of bilateral relations and an active political dialogue between Baku and Prague. He added that the talks covered a wide range of issues, including bilateral, regional, and global matters, reaffirming both sides’ commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership.