UK and Azerbaijan agree strategic partnership covering trade and defence industry
The UK and Azerbaijan have raised their relationship to a Strategic Partnership through a joint declaration adopted in Dublin on 12 November 2026. The text sets out cooperation on defence, trade and investment, and education and innovation.
Defence industry and security
Both sides commit to defence cooperation focused on training, capacity building and interoperability. They will also explore ways to strengthen defence industry cooperation, including joint initiatives in areas of shared interest. The declaration adds closer law enforcement, border management and judicial collaboration.
Trade, investment and energy
The two governments say they want to broaden bilateral trade and investment, with priority sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure and services. They also plan to promote business-to-business links that generate jobs, skills and value in both economies.
Other commitments include:
- Support for the development of the Middle Corridor, alongside transport, logistics and infrastructure projects that ease cross-border trade.
- Cooperation on the clean energy transition, covering renewable energy development, green finance and low-carbon technologies.
- Exploring deeper links in financial and capital markets, including trade finance, SME growth and green finance.
The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation will be the main platform for advancing joint work on investment, economic diversification, Middle Corridor development and energy.
Skills, research and innovation
The declaration promises cooperation on higher education, vocational training, and digital and technical skills. It also backs partnerships between universities, research institutions and industry on digitalisation, emerging technologies and life sciences, including exchanges of expertise on artificial intelligence.
Follow-up
An annual Strategic Partnership meeting will review progress across the declaration's three pillars and agree practical next steps. Cooperation is subject to the availability of resources and to each country's laws and regulations.
Source: GOV.UK advanced manufacturing · Image: Pixabay