Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Berlin on Tuesday for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with energy security, trade, and transport cooperation high on the agenda as the two countries moved to deepen bilateral ties.
During the visit, Azerbaijan and Germany signed a strategic partnership declaration along with several agreements covering energy, transport, infrastructure, trade, investment, and science and technology. Germany became the second European country, after Italy, to sign such a partnership agreement with Azerbaijan.
Energy cooperation was a key focus of the talks. Merz welcomed Azerbaijan’s growing role in supplying natural gas to Europe, with annual deliveries to Germany expected to reach around 2 billion cubic meters next year as Berlin continues efforts to diversify energy imports away from Russia.
The leaders also discussed the Middle Corridor transport route, which connects Europe and Asia through the South Caucasus and is increasingly viewed as an alternative trade corridor linking European and Asian markets. A joint business forum was held alongside the official meetings.
The visit comes as Azerbaijan seeks to expand its economic cooperation with European partners beyond oil and gas, with both sides signaling interest in strengthening collaboration in logistics, manufacturing, and investment.
