July 26, 2025
Al Monitor - In Azerbaijan, Syria’s Sharaa extends reach to South Caucasus, worries Iran
On July 12, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa made a strategic visit to Azerbaijan, signaling a new chapter in bilateral ties with a sharp focus on deepening economic cooperation. Beyond politics and trade, Sharaa emphasized that the relationship between Damascus and Baku is anchored in shared history and culture — underscoring Syria’s strong support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity amid a shifting regional landscape.
Baku and Damascus signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation, with Azerbaijan agreeing to export gas to Syria via Turkey. For Syria, a country grappling with energy shortages, the agreement marks a major success that could significantly improve its domestic situation. Although the timeline for initiating exports remains uncertain, projections suggest that Azerbaijan will supply around 1 billion cubic meters of gas to Syria annually through Turkey.
Azerbaijan’s gas exports could eventually reach beyond Syria. With the rehabilitation of the Turkey-Syria gas pipeline, it is feasible that Azerbaijan — a country with experience exporting to Middle Eastern markets — could send gas to other countries such as Jordan. Specific projects on gas pipelines have already been unveiled. For instance, Azerbaijan has been Israel’s main oil supplier (via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline), covering some 40-60% of the country’s oil needs.
More importantly, the energy memorandum with Syria is part of Azerbaijan’s broader strategy to diversify its gas exports. Baku's energy policy, once focused almost exclusively on Europe, is shifting: The Middle East is emerging as a solid buyer of Caspian oil and gas.
Read more at Al Monitor.