NATO Azerbaijan Relations Expand After Deputy Visit
NATO Azerbaijan relations stayed on a stable track after NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska wrapped up a two day visit to Baku on January 21 and 22, 2026. The visit focused on partnership progress, regional security issues, and finalizing a new tailored cooperation programme.
Shekerinska met with senior Azerbaijan officials including Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Speaker of the Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, and the President’s special representative Elchin Amirbayov to review cooperation and shared security challenges.
Long standing Partnership
The alliance highlighted more than three decades of political dialogue and practical cooperation with Azerbaijan, spanning defence education, military interoperability, and participation in NATO led missions such as Afghanistan. Azerbaijan’s contributions to international security and regional stability were underlined by both sides.
NATO officials also praised Azerbaijan’s role as an energy partner whose gas exports support energy independence of several NATO Allied states, particularly in light of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.
New Partnership Programme
A centrepiece of the talks was progress toward an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) between NATO and Azerbaijan. The multi year framework is intended to expand cooperation in defence education modernisation, demining, human security, cyber defence, and countering information threats. The programme will give Azerbaijan broader access to NATO partnership activities and support for defence reforms.
Shekerinska said NATO is ready to expand political dialogue and cooperation with Azerbaijan under the new partnership framework and assist Baku in ongoing defence and security reforms. A new NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia was also announced and is expected to start duties soon.
Regional Security and Cooperation
Discussions also covered the normalisation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and NATO’s role in supporting security across the Black Sea region. Both sides emphasised that sustained cooperation contributes positively to regional stability.
Speaker Gafarova noted the value of long term political dialogue with NATO and highlighted Azerbaijan’s transit role in regional connectivity. She also referenced recent high level exchanges including President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to NATO headquarters and regular bilateral contacts.
Broader Engagement
In addition to meetings with political leaders, Shekerinska engaged with students at ADA University as well as experts, think tank representatives, and NATO allied ambassadors during her visit. These engagements reinforced NATO’s interest in deepening ties across multiple sectors.
Context
Azerbaijan has been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme for over 30 years, maintaining consistent cooperation in military and security fields. The current visit reflects ongoing efforts to adapt and expand that relationship amid evolving security challenges in the South Caucasus and beyond.
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