Geghard Foundation: Azerbaijani-Israeli alliance is dangerous for  Armenia, Iran and even Turkey

ArmInfo. The Azerbaijan-Israel alliance, driven by the mutual and individual interests of the two countries, poses a realistic threat to reshaping the "map" of the Middle East and the South Caucasus, and is dangerous not only for the  entire region but also for individual states, including Armenia,  Iran, and Turkey, as  stated in an analytical note by the Geghard  Scientific and Analytical Foundation, received by ArmInfo.

In this vein, the foundation mentioned that Israel was among the  first  to officially recognize the independence of Azerbaijan on  December 25, 1991. In addition, diplomatic relations were established  between the countries in 1992, and in 1993, Israel opened its embassy  in Azerbaijan. "And from the mid 2000s, the Israeli leadership gave  new impetus to the development of relations with Azerbaijan. A  catalyst for this  was the success of the Israel Our Home party  in  the 2006 Knesset elections  (Israeli parliament - ed.) and the  appointment of its leader, Avigdor Lieberman as Deputy Prime Minister  and Minister of Strategic Planning," the report notes. As Geghard  noted, it was with his assistance  that Baku began acquiring modern  Israeli equipment, which was used against Artsakh war in 2016, 2020  and 2023. 

The foundation noted that it was after the war in Artsakh and its  occupation that this cooperation, after 30 years of direct contacts,  was made public. " However, it was only in July 2021 that Azerbaijan  opened a trade office in Tel Aviv, which the Israeli ambassador in  Baku  described as a historic event. Despite nearly 30 years of  direct contacts, Azerbaijan only opened its embassy in Israel in  March 2023," the report explains. In addition, Geghard noted that  although the initial data on the signing of contracts for the  purchase of Israeli weapons dates back to 2008, there is information  about Israel's military support to Azerbaijan during the first  Artsakh war, in particular, the provision of Stinger missiles.  "Meanwhile, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research  Institute (SIPRI), between 2016 and 2020, 69% of weapons imported to  Azerbaijan came from Israel, accounting for 17% of Israel's total  arms exports. The sale of weapons to Azerbaijan brought Israel not  only provide economic benefits, but with such support, the Jewish  state acquire a significant platform against Iran," Geghard noted.

In this vein, the foundation recalled the statement by Azerbaijani  President Ilham Aliyev that the relations between the countries  resemble an iceberg, nine-tenth of  which is out of sight of  outsiders. "In fact, while the Azerbaijan-Israel alliance has  positive significance for both countries, it is problematic for other  regional states due to security challenges. Within the framework of  this alliance, the civilian populations of Azerbaijan and Israel are  used as "military fodder," while the results benefit exclusively the  ruling families and their relatives," Geghard concluded.