Azerbaijan, UAE sign defence cooperation letter during Ilham Aliyev’s Abu Dhabi visit

Azerbaijan, UAE sign defence cooperation letter during Ilham Aliyev’s Abu Dhabi visit
President Ilham Aliyev meets UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during talks in Abu Dhabi, 2 February 2026.
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Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Letter of Intent on defence cooperation during President Ilham Aliyev’s working visit to Abu Dhabi, marking a new step in expanding military ties between the two strategic partners.

The document was signed as Ilham Aliyev met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with both leaders reaffirming that Azerbaijan–UAE relations are based on a strategic partnership.

In the presence of the two presidents, a separate document was also signed on the sale of part of Azerbaijan’s non-controlling stake in Southern Gas Corridor CJSC to XRG, the international investment arm of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), according to Azerbaijan’s presidency.

Both sides welcomed the steady expansion of cooperation across political, economic, energy — including renewable energy — cultural and humanitarian fields, noting that regular high-level contacts between the two presidents continue to drive relations forward.

The leaders also discussed the ‘Peace Shield - 2026’ joint operational-tactical military exercise held in Abu Dhabi between the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and the UAE Armed Forces, saying such drills strengthen operational interoperability and agreeing on the importance of continuing them.

The presidents expressed confidence that the signed documents will give fresh momentum to bilateral relations and also touched on the possibility of establishing twinning relations between Baku and Abu Dhabi.

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