Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Strategic Partnership
A joint declaration on strategic partnership has been signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Operativ Media reports that the document was signed by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Andy Burnham.
Below is the full text of the declaration:
"The Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to as the "Participants").
Building upon the long-standing relations between the two countries and recalling the Joint Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation of February 23, 1994, and the Joint Declaration on Friendly Relations and Partnership of July 21, 1998, while recognizing the strength, depth, and dynamism of bilateral ties, express their shared determination to elevate their relations based on mutual respect, shared interests, and practical cooperation to the level of Strategic Partnership.
Reaffirming their commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, the principles and norms of international law, in particular the principles regarding respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders.
Emphasizing the importance of the Washington Peace Summit Declaration of August 8, 2025, and welcoming subsequent peace steps taken toward the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reaffirms its continued support for the efforts of both countries aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region through bilateral dialogue.
Recognizing that strong, sustainable, and diversified economic growth, open trade, investment, and innovation are essential foundations for long-term stability and prosperity for both Participants.
Recognizing that enduring partnerships are built on trust, openness, and strong people-to-people ties, both sides confirm the importance of practical cooperation in education, science, innovation, and skills as the foundation for long-term growth and digital transformation. The Participants also recognize the mutual benefit of direct engagement with communities and commit to supporting projects and programs that achieve the objectives of this Partnership.
The Participants have reached the following understanding:
I. Defense and Security
The Participants share a long-term commitment to strengthening defense and security cooperation to support regional peace and stability, and to enhancing their capabilities to deter, prevent, and respond to common threats.
They will remain committed to sustaining the momentum of high-level engagement and will deepen coordination on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.
The Participants will advance defense cooperation focused on training, capacity building, and interoperability, and will explore opportunities to strengthen defense industry cooperation, including joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
They will strengthen cooperation across a broad spectrum of security priorities in response to growing security challenges and threats.
Furthermore, the Participants will establish enhanced law enforcement partnerships, border management, and judicial and legal cooperation to reinforce the rule of law and institutional resilience.
They also confirm their intention to cooperate in multilateral platforms where interests align, jointly contributing to international peace and security.
II. Trade, Investment and Growth
The Participants share the ambition to expand and deepen bilateral trade and investment ties, as well as to promote sustainable, inclusive, and diversified economic growth.
They will strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation by facilitating long-term commercial partnerships, knowledge sharing, and engagement across priority sectors—including renewable energy, infrastructure, and services—and by fostering business-to-business links that generate jobs, skills, and value in both economies.
The Participants emphasize the importance of regional and international connectivity and will support the development of the Middle Corridor alongside transport, logistics, and infrastructure projects that facilitate cross-border trade and investment.
They will cooperate on the clean energy transition—including renewable energy development, green financing, and low-carbon technologies—to support climate resilience, sustainability, progress toward net-zero targets, and energy security.
The Participants will explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in financial and capital markets through dialogue between relevant authorities and financial institutions, supporting sustainable investment, trade finance, SME growth, and green financing. In accordance with their respective laws and regulations, they will facilitate knowledge sharing and institutional cooperation that enhance the resilience, transparency, and international market access of the financial sector.
The Participants attach special importance to the role of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation as a mechanism to stimulate economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as technical dialogue. They will use it as a key platform to advance joint initiatives on investment, economic diversification, Middle Corridor development, and energy cooperation.
III. Education and Innovation
The Participants recognize education, science, research, and innovation as vital drivers of long-term prosperity, productivity, and social resilience, as well as the foundation of modern, competitive, and inclusive economies.
In response to growing labor market and governance needs, they will deepen cooperation in education and skills development, including higher education, vocational education and training, digital and technical skills, as well as executive and public sector training.
The Participants will promote research, innovation, and technological cooperation, including partnerships among universities, research institutes, and industries collaborating in digitalization, emerging technologies, and life sciences. They will also exchange expertise on artificial intelligence, digital governance, and innovation ecosystems, focusing on skills development, transparency, and inclusive growth.
The Participants will encourage people-to-people exchanges and professional networks that foster mutual understanding, cultural ties, and long-term cooperation between the two civil societies.
Final Provisions
The Participants reached an understanding to hold annual Strategic Partnership meetings to review progress across the three pillars of this Declaration, define priorities for future cooperation, and agree on practical monitoring of progress.
Cooperation under this Declaration will be subject to the availability of resources and in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of the Participants.
Done in the city of Dublin on November 12, 2026, in two original copies in the Azerbaijani and English languages, both texts being equally authentic."
