Azerbaijan seeks to defuse tensions between Turkey and Israel in Syria

The government of Azerbaijan has confirmed its role as a mediator aimed at easing tensions between Turkey and Israel in Syria following the collapse of the Assad regime. With strong diplomatic and strategic ties to both Ankara and Jerusalem, Azerbaijan is seen as well-positioned to facilitate dialogue between the two regional powers.

“Azerbaijan is making diplomatic efforts for an agreement,” Azerbaijan’s top foreign policy advisor, Hikmet Hajiyev, told Turkish media representatives in the Azeri capital Baku.” He added, “Both Turkey and Israel trust us.”

The Turkish military is conducting operations in northern Syria targeting Kurdish rebel forces, while the Israeli army has established a security buffer zone in southern Syria to prevent terrorist attacks on Israeli border communities in the Golan Heights.

Turkey and Israel have each accused the other of contributing to instability in Syria through their respective military operations. In April, reports emerged that Turkish and Israeli officials held de-escalation talks in Azerbaijan, aimed at reducing the risk of direct conflict between the two nations within Syrian territory.

Farid Shafiyev, chairman of the Center for Analysis of International Relations in Baku, emphasized the need for mutual respect.

“We are successful if the two parties agree on a common model that respects each other’s concerns,” Shafiyev assessed.

“Syria, and especially its northern territories, is the Turkish security concern because of the presence of terrorist groups,” he continued, referring to Kurdish fighters based in the area. He believes that Turkey is seeking to establish “a stronger presence” at the T4 airbase in Palmyra to bolster the newly formed pro-Turkish Islamist regime in Damascus.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is reportedly sensitive to Israel’s security concerns along its border with Syria.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated sharply since the Hamas massacre of 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping of 251 on Oct. 7, 2023.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has refused to condemn Hamas’ atrocities and has denied that the group is a terrorist organization, instead referring to it as a “resistance” movement. Erdoğan has also demonized the Jewish state, accusing the Israel Defense Forces of committing “genocide” and “war crimes.” The Turkish president has also compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with WW2 Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

Turkey and Israel continue to maintain diplomatic relations, despite both countries having recalled their ambassadors from each other’s embassies.

“As long as the war in Gaza continues, Turkey will not normalize ties with Israel,” an unnamed senior Turkish official told the AFP news outlet.

In contrast, Israel maintains close relations with the Muslim-majority country of Azerbaijan. The Azer diplomat, Hajiyev, confirmed that Azerbaijan purchased military hardware from Israel.

“We bought weapons from Israel during the war, we paid for them [and] Israel gave us diplomatic support,” he stated and confirmed reports that Azerbaijan is exporting oil to Israel.

“Azeri oil is coming to Ceyhan, but once that oil is loaded onto ships that sail on the open seas, you cannot control the final destination,” Hajiyev said. “These are the rules of the world oil market.”

Turkish analyst Serkan Demirtas believes that Azerbaijan’s mediating role is driven by Baku’s national self-interest.

“A confrontation between its two best allies in the region is a situation Azerbaijan does not want at all,” he assessed.

“Incoming news shows that progress has been made. This indicates the growing influence of hydrocarbon-rich Azerbaijan in the region after the Karabakh war.”