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Defence Deal Confirmed Between Israel And Azerbaijan

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  • Defence Deal Confirmed Between Israel And Azerbaijan

    DEFENCE DEAL CONFIRMED BETWEEN ISRAEL AND AZERBAIJAN

    Global Insight
    February 27, 2012

    Officials from state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries confirmed
    yesterday (26 February) the sale of USD1.6-billion worth of defence
    equipment to Azerbaijan. The deal, one of the largest in Azerbaijan's
    history, was reported by Israeli media to include 60 unmanned aerial
    vehicles, air defence missiles and radar systems. An unnamed Israeli
    defence official reportedly stated that the deal had been under
    discussion for months and was not a reaction to the recent increase
    in tensions between Azerbaijan and its southern neighbour, Iran.

    Animosity between the two countries has become more heated recently
    following accusations by Iran that the Azeri authorities have been
    helping Israeli security forces undertake assassinations of its
    citizens, and claims by Azerbaijan that Iran is backing terrorist
    actions within its borders (seeAzerbaijan - Iran: 22 February 2012:).

    Azerbaijan buys Israeli defence equipment in part because of
    restrictions on what it can acquire from the US and Europe, both
    of which are seeking to avoid escalation of the conflict between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

    Significance:Though tensions have escalated between Azerbaijan and
    Iran in recent months, a military confrontation is unlikely.

    Azerbaijan's military is no match for Iran's and neither state has
    much to gain from sparking a confrontation. The weapons purchased
    by Baku are more likely to be used against the breakaway region of
    Nagorno-Karabakh; indeed, an aerial drone, possibly Israeli-made,
    was shot down over the region last year (seeArmenia - Azerbaijan:
    15 September 2011:). Nevertheless, the sale is further evidence of
    closer Israeli-Azeri ties. This is because of mutual concern over
    Iran's nuclear programme and Israel's interest in an ally in the
    region against a background of deteriorating relations with Turkey.

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