Israeli expert: It is natural for Armenia to be jealous about Baku-Tel Aviv relations

The strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel has become more evident in recent years. These relations are primarily manifested in the economic, energy, and military sectors and hold strategic significance for both countries.

In the economic sector, cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is accompanied by an increase in trade turnover. Azerbaijan is an important energy supplier for Israel, particularly in terms of oil and gas exports. Israel, in turn, provides support to Azerbaijan in the fields of agricultural technologies, water management systems, and high technologies.

In the military sector, there is also significant cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel. Israel exports modern military technologies and weapons to Azerbaijan, which enhances Azerbaijan's defence capabilities and serves as an important factor for regional security.

This close cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel worries Armenia. Armenia believes that the military relations between Azerbaijan and Israel, especially the arms sales that help modernise the Azerbaijani army, will change the regional power balance. Additionally, economic and energy cooperation is seen as a threat to Armenia's economic security.

In his comment to Azernews on the issue, Dean Shmuel Elmas, Geopolitics and Energy Analyst in the Israeli most popular financial newspaper, Globes, and M.A student for International Relations and Maritime Strategy at Haifa University stated that Azerbaijan-Israel relations seriously concern Armenians.

“Armenia is the main regional partner of Iran, and therefore the Armenians see the Israeli-Azerbaijani historic ties as a threat. So, it is natural for Armenia to be jealous about this burgeoning relations. Moreover, we know how significant the Israeli-made weapons and ammunition are for the Azerbaijani armed forces and their recent conflicts with Armenia,” he said.

The expert brought attention to the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“Israel is the best partner of Azerbaijan in our region, and we know the great relations between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he noted.

The analyst stressed that Israel hosts so many intelligent Azerbaijani students that are part of the bright Azerbaijani future.

“Let's take the education sector as an example. Israeli education companies help Azerbaijan improve its technology education. At the same time, we have amazing Azerbaijani students in Israel that I've met, and I know that they are a major part of Azerbaijan's bright future. I can give examples of Raphael Nabizade and Said Omanov, whom I know personally,” the expert said.

The expert also discussed the options for the Armenians in the sphere of education.

“While we know the top-class level of the Israeli universities, what are the options for the Armenian next generation? Tehran University? That's why I am sure that with the leadership of Ambassadors Mukhtar Mammadov and George Deek, other new mutual records are near,” he noted.

The expert emphasized that despite all this, the Armenians are still criticizing Azerbaijan-Israel relations.

They are trying over and over again, in the U.S., Israel, and elsewhere. In Hebrew, we usually say "A barking dog doesn't bite". So they make noises, but when you are making noise - You don't work. This is what is all about. The basis of the Israeli-Azerbaijani relations is hard and long mutual work. This is why the relations are so successful.

It should be noted that the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel is carried out in accordance with the national interests of both countries and holds strategic significance. Although this cooperation increases Armenia's concerns, it strengthens the positions of Azerbaijan and Israel on regional and global levels. Time will show how these processes will develop in the future, but current trends indicate that the relations between these two countries will further strengthen.