BAKU, July 25, 2025 — As he concludes his diplomatic mission, Israeli Ambassador George Deek offered a comprehensive reflection on the evolving partnership between Israel and Azerbaijan, noting substantial progress over the past six years and outlining future priorities for bilateral ties.
Speaking at his farewell briefing, Deek highlighted the growing diversification of relations between the two countries — spanning not only energy and security, but also expanding business and commercial cooperation.
“The opening of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tel Aviv in 2023 was a historic milestone and a major achievement,” he said, describing it as a symbol of mutual trust and strategic alignment.
Looking ahead, Deek noted that his successor, Ambassador Ronen Kraus, is tasked with deepening trade and economic ties. While bilateral non-oil trade has doubled since 2021 to $243 million, Deek stressed that the figure remains modest given the potential.
“That number should increase five- or sixfold if we want to reach a truly meaningful level of cooperation,” he stated.
He also expressed hope that more Israeli companies would enter the Azerbaijani market, especially in the context of reconstruction and development projects in the Karabakh region, where Israeli expertise in technology, agriculture, and infrastructure could play a vital role.
The outgoing ambassador’s remarks underscore a shared interest in building a resilient, multifaceted partnership between Baku and Tel Aviv, grounded in both strategic cooperation and growing people-to-people exchanges.
