Azerbaijan supports Syria's rebuilding process as relations intensify under the fresh administration.

Laying the Groundwork for a New Era:

Azerbaijan, led by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, recently made a significant move by visiting war-torn Syria under the orders of President Ilham Aliyev. The intention was to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Syria's interim government and contribute to the nation's rebuilding efforts.

Arriving in Damascus, the delegation was warmly received by Syria's transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa. Both parties engaged in talks about potential collaboration in various aspects, including the economy, energy, culture, and education. This meeting was a follow-up on a previous encounter between Al-Sharaa and Aliyev at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where they explored the possibility of a closer relationship.

Sharifov handed over a letter from Aliyev to the Syrian head of state, containing an official invitation for Al-Sharaa to visit Azerbaijan. According to local news outlets, the trip was an extension of an earlier official visit to Damascus in December and coincided with Azerbaijan's decision to restore its embassy in Syria after a 12-year void.

This visit came on the heels of humanitarian aid provided by Baku to Syria in January, highlighting a pattern of re-engagement by Azerbaijan in post-war Arab states.

Apart from meeting Al-Sharaa, the Azerbaijani delegation held discussions with several Syrian ministers, like Foreign Minister Asad Hasan Al-Shibani, Economy Minister Nidal Al-Shaar, Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir, Culture Minister Muhammad Yasin Saleh, and Education Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko.

During these dialogues, the parties explored potential avenues for cooperation in Syria's post-conflict reconstruction, such as infrastructure, oil and gas, and education development.

This diplomatic exchange demonstrates a notable change in the foreign policy stance of Azerbaijan towards Damascus, as Syria's transitional government tries to rekindle relationships in the region after more than a decade of isolation.

For the record, Azerbaijan's president stated that it was the right time to dismantle the OSCE Minsk Group.

Enrichment Insights:

Azerbaijan and Syria have witnessed an impressive upgrade in their foreign relations in early 2025, marked by the reestablishment of diplomatic ties, high-level visits, and emerging collaborative projects.

Recent Developments and Diplomatic Engagements:

In February 2025, Azerbaijan restored its diplomatic presence in Damascus after a 13-year disruption, indicating a renewed determination for bilateral relations.[1]
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on April 11, 2025, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum side events. During this encounter, Aliyev promised Azerbaijan's readiness to aid Syria's post-war reconstruction and welcomed al-Sharaa to visit Azerbaijan, emphasizing a qualitative improvement in relations.[1]
Earlier in 2025, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov visited Damascus, interacting with Al-Sharaa and key Syrian ministers from the economy, energy, health, and education sectors to discuss cooperation opportunities.[2][3]
Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov spoke with his Syrian counterpart Mohammad al-Bashir, focusing on energy cooperation, including gas supply, renewable energy, skills exchange, and energy infrastructure investments.[3]

Focus Areas for Collaboration:

Post-conflict Reconstruction: Both countries are investigating potential Azerbaijani contributions to Syria’s infrastructure reconstruction, covering areas such as infrastructure development, energy, health, and education.[2][3]
Energy Sector Cooperation: Given the abundant hydrocarbon resources of both countries, there is significant potential for partnership in the energy sector. Azerbaijan's SOCAR stands to play a vital role in restoring the conflict-ravaged Syria oil and gas sector, with Syria showing interest in working with SOCAR on these initiatives.[1][4]
Economic and Investment Opportunities: Beyond energy, Azerbaijan is planning to engage in Syria's broader economic recovery, potentially fortifying trade and investment ties.[2][3]

Context and Strategic Implications:

Azerbaijan's renewed engagement with Syria symbolizes a strategic shift to strengthen ties with Middle Eastern countries post-conflict and demonstrates a departure from the previous strained relations due to Syria’s pro-Armenian stance.[3]
The collaboration holds geopolitical importance, with Syria viewing Azerbaijan's alliance with Israel and strategic regional partnerships as a protective measure against possible external threats to energy infrastructure investments.[4]
Azerbaijan’s involvement in Syria's reconstruction is expected to bolster its soft power and influence in the Middle East, representing a significant diversification of its foreign policy.[1][4]

In essence, Azerbaijan's foreign policy towards Syria in 2025 is characterized by revitalized diplomatic relations, high-level visits, and focused cooperation on Syria's reconstruction, especially in the energy and infrastructure sectors, setting the stage for a closer relationship between both countries in the post-conflict environment.[1][2][3][4]

The meeting between Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov and Syria's transitional President Ahmad Al-Sharaa featured discussions about potential collaboration in various sectors, including economy, energy, culture, and education.
In Damascus, the Azerbaijani delegation held talks with ministers like Foreign Minister Asad Hasan Al-Shibani, Economy Minister Nidal Al-Shaar, Energy Minister Mohammad Al-Bashir, Culture Minister Muhammad Yasin Saleh, and Education Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Turko, exploring potential avenues for cooperation in Syria's post-conflict reconstruction.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev met with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on April 11, 2025, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum side events, where they discussed potential collaboration in Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction and closer relationships.
The visit by Azerbaijan's delegation to Syria came after Azerbaijan's decision to restore its embassy in Syria after a 12-year void and after providing humanitarian aid to Syria in January, highlighting a pattern of re-engagement by Azerbaijan in post-war Arab states.
The diplomatic exchange between Azerbaijan and Syria demonstrates a notable change in the foreign policy stance of Azerbaijan towards Damascus, as Syria's transitional government tries to rekindle relationships in the region after more than a decade of isolation.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev recently made a significant move by ordering Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister to visit war-torn Syria to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Syria's interim government and contribute to the nation's rebuilding efforts.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev stated that it was the right time to dismantle the OSCE Minsk Group, indicating a potential shift in Azerbaijan's foreign policy stance towards certain regional conflicts.