There are various ways to analyse relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, but one approach stands out as particularly compelling: the strategic interests of the Old Continent in Azerbaijan. In other words, Azerbaijan’s European future is a question of strategic interests, not geography alone. Sitting on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, the country offers Europe three things it increasingly needs: diversified energy supplies, alternative trade routes connecting it with Asia, and opportunities to build a more resilient economic partnership across the South Caucasus.
However, the value of these assets raises a more difficult question: could a country that is already important to the European Union as an economic partner eventually become part of the bloc itself? In fact, there are sound reasons for Brussels to take Azerbaijan seriously. The EU is Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner, accounting for 38.7% of its total trade and 70.2% of its exports.
In 2025, European imports from Azerbaijan reached €13.9bn, while EU exports to the country amounted to €2.8bn. The imbalance, in the meantime, reflects the importance of Azerbaijani energy supplies, but it also shows how much the relationship could gain from a broader economic foundation. Let's admit that energy remains the most immediate reason for Europe to value Azerbaijan.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has sought to reduce its dependence on Russian energy and diversify its suppliers. Azerbaijan has become part of that effort through the Southern Gas Corridor, which brings Caspian gas to European markets via Türkiye and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline. According to the European Commission, gas supplies from Azerbaijan increased by more than 40% between 2021 and 2024.
The partnership also covers renewable energy, energy efficiency and methane emissions, suggesting that the relationship is no longer confined to the sale of hydrocarbons. But energy is only part of Azerbaijan’s appeal, as its location gives it a role in the emerging transport network linking Europe with Central Asia and China. In 2025, the East-West transport corridor passing through Azerbaijan carried approximately 16.9 million tonnes of cargo, while the North-South corridor handled 9.3 million tonnes.
These figures demonstrate the country’s importance as a transit hub, although they also underline the need for continued investment in infrastructure, capacity and efficiency. For Europe, stronger connections across the Caspian could offer additional access to Central Asian markets, energy resources and critical raw materials. How about for Azerbaijan?
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