Azerbaijan and Serbia have formally launched a Strategic Partnership Council, marking a new phase in bilateral relations and placing cooperation under direct presidential oversight.
Speaking from Belgrade, AnewZ’s Orkhan Amashov described the new Council as “incredibly important”, noting that although the decision to establish it had been taken earlier, its first meeting was held this week.
He said the format enables the presidents of both countries to directly supervise major projects and prevent bureaucratic delays.
Azerbaijan and Serbia have been strategic partners since 2013, when a joint action plan was adopted. Amashov said the council formalises cooperation at the highest political level and reflects both countries’ ambition to strengthen their regional roles.
Azerbaijan has created similar high-level mechanisms with several states with which it maintains strategic or comprehensive partnerships.
Energy remains central to the partnership. Several bilateral documents were adopted during the latest talks, including agreements in the energy sector.
Amashov said Azerbaijan contributes to energy diversification in the Western Balkans as regional states seek alternatives to Russian supplies. Cooperation includes plans for a 500 megawatt gas-fired power plant near Niš, aimed at strengthening Serbia’s domestic generation capacity.
He also noted Azerbaijan’s broader electricity expansion strategy, with plans to add eight gigawatts of generating capacity by 2032, part of which is expected to serve European markets.
Beyond economics, Amashov highlighted the political dimension of the relationship. He pointed to Azerbaijan’s consistent support for Serbia’s territorial integrity regarding Kosovo, despite differing positions with treaty ally Türkiye.
As Serbia advances its European Union accession process, he said closer ties with Azerbaijan enhance Belgrade’s strategic flexibility.
Strategic council launch and agreements
President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Serbia on 15 February centred on the inaugural session of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Strategic Partnership Council and the signing of multiple bilateral agreements.
Aliyev was received in Belgrade by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić with an official ceremony at Nikola Tesla Airport. The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting, chaired the council session and addressed the press.
A document exchange ceremony followed, covering cooperation in food security, the design and operation of a gas-turbine power plant, economic coordination, media and communications, culture for 2026 to 2030, sports and health insurance systems.
Both leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with Vučić describing the council session as a turning point in bilateral relations.
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Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Global oil prices continue to rise, currently surpassing $119 a barrel this Monday, an almost four year high following fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting oil depots. Stock markets shares slumped on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Kyrgyzstan recorded the largest increase in women’s representation in parliament worldwide in 2025, according to a new report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Türkiye’s official anti-disinformation agency has issued a statement refuting what it described as online “disinformation” and reiterating the strength of relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Almost 2,000 people have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan since conflict erupted in the Middle East.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
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