Baku, September 16, 2025
Britain has officially elevated its ties with Azerbaijan to the level of a “strategic partnership.” The announcement came from Stephen Doughty, the U.K. Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories, during his visit to Baku.
But beyond the headlines, analysts question whether the move signals genuine policy change or simply formalizes existing cooperation.
Farhad Mammadov, head of the Center for South Caucasus Studies, told Minval Politika that London has been present in the region since the early 1990s, but almost exclusively through Azerbaijan. Unlike Georgia, which pursued formal Euro – Atlantic integration under Mikheil Saakashvili, Baku’s relationship with Britain has long revolved around energy projects and sector-specific cooperation.
“Effectively, what the British statement does is outline what already exists,” Mammadov said. “With other European countries, declarations come first and projects follow. With Britain, the projects have been there for years – especially in energy.”
Beyond BP
The analyst stressed that energy is a saturated field, dominated by BP, whose shareholders are largely American. “The maximum has been reached in energy,” he noted, pointing to the need for Britain to expand into other sectors.
Opportunities, he argued, lie in trade agreements, insurance services, logistics, and non-oil exports. London remains a global hub for insurance, a critical element in freight security. Britain, outside the European Union, also has more freedom to strike bilateral deals.
A Role in Non-Oil Sectors
According to Mammadov, Azerbaijan needs access to new export markets beyond oil and gas. The U.K. could play a role in developing its non – oil economy, from technology transfer to investments. But this requires more than rhetoric.
“So far, we have heard little from the British Embassy beyond routine phrases in Azerbaijani and talk of energy,” he said. “If the level of relations is being raised, then it should be felt in other areas – technology, non-oil industry, insurance, investment.”
High Expectations
Mammadov described Britain and the United States as a distinct bloc within the West, with their own agenda. For now, the U.K.’s example in Azerbaijan is limited to energy. But expectations in Baku are for much more – especially in green energy, technology, and trade.
“If Britain decides on free trade and opens its markets, it will not only strengthen its own role but also set an example for other Western countries,” he concluded.
