Azerbaijan: Agreements Signed with UAE on Cooperation in Energy Sector

Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates signed four important agreements on the development of cooperation in the traditional and renewable energy sectors. The documents were signed on the sidelines of the visit of the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed to Baku. In the capital of the former Soviet Caspian republic, President Mohamed bin Zayed held a lengthy meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, outlining ways to develop cooperation in various fields.

The agreements signed between Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates concern the creation of a special base to implement joint projects for the construction of modern power grids and the exchange of the most advanced technical experience in the industry. In addition, the two countries agreed to develop cooperation in the field of green energy production, including the construction of wind and photovoltaic power plants. In 2024, Azerbaijan will host the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29).

Azerbaijan, a Muslim republic of the former USSR, is striking political and economic pacts with the Arab world amid rising tensions between Baku and Europe. In particular, Azerbaijan specifically called on France to stop “interfering” in its internal affairs after the arrest of French citizen Martin Ryan, accused of espionage, by Azerbaijani services.

France, a traditional ally of Armenia, condemned Ryan’s arrest as an “arbitrary” gesture. The Foreign Ministry in Baku asked “France to once again stop interfering in the internal affairs of Azerbaijan.” The French citizen was arrested on December 4 last year, but this became known only on Tuesday, January 9. The alleged French spy was placed in custody for four months, and the authorities in Paris demanded his immediate release.