International Political Implications of Netanyahu Acknowledging Armenian Mass Killings
In a historic move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly recognised the massacres against Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks during the Ottoman Empire as genocide on August 27, 2025. This is the first time an Israeli prime minister has made such a statement.
The recognition has sparked political debate within Israel and concerns in Azerbaijan, a country that plays a vital role in ensuring Israel's energy security. Azerbaijan supplies 40-60% of Israel's crude oil needs, and the two nations have a strong partnership that rests on energy security, defense cooperation, and regional diplomacy.
Azerbaijan's role in the future of Israeli-Turkish relations is significant due to its close alliance with Turkey, especially in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict where Turkey supported Azerbaijan against Armenia. However, Israel's recognition of the Armenian Genocide complicates this dynamic, as Azerbaijan opposes such acknowledgments because of its conflict with Armenia and its strategic partnership with Turkey.
Israel's support for Azerbaijan in the fields of energy and defense is indispensable, and it is unlikely that Azerbaijan will sever its strategic ties with Israel due to Netanyahu's statement. Elbit Systems, an Israeli company, cooperates with Azerbaijan in UAV production, a capability that played a decisive role in Azerbaijan's success during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
In 2016, Baku purchased $1.6 billion worth of air defense systems from Israel, and in early 2025, SOCAR acquired a 10% stake in Israel's Tamar gas field. Israel and Azerbaijan signed a $1.32 billion deal in 2023, involving two satellites and the Barak MX air defense system. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached about $1.4 billion in 2024.
Rachel Avraham, the CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and an Israel-based journalist, shed light on this complex issue. Avraham, who is also the author of "Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media," emphasised the importance of understanding the political implications of Netanyahu's statement.
For decades, Israel maintained a deliberate neutrality regarding the "Armenian genocide" issue due to strategic relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. However, Netanyahu's recognition is not legally binding and does not constitute Israel's official state policy. The statement does not constitute an official Knesset decision but reflects Netanyahu's personal stance.
In politics, interests often outweigh emotions. The future of the Azerbaijan-Israel partnership, therefore, may rely on the ability of these two nations to navigate the complex web of strategic alliances and regional conflicts while maintaining mutual respect and cooperation. Azerbaijan, as a diplomatic bridge in the South Caucasus, will undoubtedly continue to play a significant role in this dynamic.
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