Azerbaijan wants to position itself as a middle power – with the help of its energy resources and the geographical location. Federal President Steinmeier met a self -confident host in Baku.
It was a friendly atmosphere in the summer residence of Azerbaijani President Ilham Alijew on the Caspian Sea. The conversation with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier planned for half an hour lasted almost twice as long. Smaller diplomatic disagreements in advance no longer played a role on site.
Steinmeier reminded that he was in contact with Alijew as a foreign minister and then remained in exchange with him. Alijew emphasized that Germany receives a significant share of the Azerbaijanic crude oil exports.
Important gas supplier
Azerbaijan jumped to Europe with gas deliveries when the gas and oil deliveries from Russia were cut because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to the EU Commission, Azerbaijan covered more than four percent of the gas requirement in the Union in 2024. It is far behind other delivery states such as Norway and the USA. However, the gas gets through the so -called southern corridor in states, which were previously dependent on Russian gas.
The German company Uniper concluded an agreement on the delivery of gas in 2013 with the Azerbaijanese state company Socar, which is reached by the southern corridor to a delivery point in Italy and is fed into the European pipeline system, like a uniper spokeswoman tagesschau.de said in 2024.
Gas deliveries from Azerbaijan have become more important, since no Russian gas now no longer flows through the lines in Ukraine to Europe. However, a project of delivering gas from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan through the Ukrainian and Russian pipelines to Europe has not yet been implemented.
Alternatives to gas and oil
In order to meet Europe's growing needs, funding systems and lines would have to be expanded. Alijew complained that the EU does not as desired and agreed in 2022 in a declaration of intent, to be financed. Steinmeier said Europe still had to do homework.
Azerbaijan primarily relies on long -term financing, which Europeans rather avoid with a view to the climate goals set for 2040. According to experts, the easy -to -break oil deposits will also be used up in the near future. Gas must be promoted from the Caspian Sea.
Alijew takes this into account by relating to the development and production of renewable energies to the extent that electricity can also be exported in the future. He also hoped for the experience of German companies, says Alijew.
“Middle Corridor” as an opportunity
In addition to these resources, the geographical location of Azerbaijan plays a growing role between Russia in the north and Iran in the south. While the north-south axis towards Indian ocean is becoming increasingly important for Russia, the “middle corridor” is gaining in importance as a land connection from Europe to Asia, the more other transport routes, such as the Red Sea.
Accordingly, Alijew sets up his country internationally confidently and partly confrontatively. The aim is to become a medium -sized power to be advocates of small states in the global south in relation to the great players from the north and, last but not least, enforce their own interests.
Trump's negotiator in Baku
When dealing with the big powers, Alijew benefits from the competition in his own power system, which he has been as president in the successor of his father Heydar Alijew since 2003.
So he knows how to deal with the interests of other states that arise from the neighborhood to Iran. This includes the United States: President Donald Trump is currently building a military and diplomatic threatening culling to dissuade the leadership in Tehran from her nuclear program.
Trump's special representative Steve Witkoff made a detour to Baku on March 14th after visiting Moscow. He had talks there, such as Alijew's foreign policy advisor Hikmet Hajiew tagesschau.de confirmed. It was about bilateral relationships, he said. He did not want to comment on whether I was talking about Iran.
“Key role in global diplomacy”
Open support comes from Israel. If the relationship between the two states has been good for years, Israel now aggressively advertises Azerbaijan. The Socar group recently received a license to promote oil off the coast of Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the importance of the trilateral partnership between the USA, Israel and Azerbaijan on March 5th. There were suggestions to use Azerbaijan as an intermediary between the United States and Russia. Schmügelg it says that Azerbaisdschan can take a “key role in global diplomacy” in the future.
Experts see Iran in a weak situation, which is why Israel could be tried to destroy nuclear facilities and military positions in Iran.
Azerbaijan's relationship with Iran has fluctuated between violent tensions and rapprochement in recent years. Both threw each other the fuel inner unrest. Finally, the situation calmed down. Azerbaijani media now report that President Massud Peseschkian is expected to visit Baku in April.
Stability as a basis
Military disputes in Iran could send shock waves far beyond the region. But Alijew needs stability for its economic goals. This was emphasized by Steinmeier in the press conference with Alijew with a view to the long -term military conflict with the neighbor Armenia, which the Federal President had previously visited.
He offered Germany's support on the way to both countries in order to sign and ratify the peace treaty that has just been negotiated. Steinmeier warned that this momentum should not be lost and that reconciliation between people had to begin to bring peace and stability to the region.
