Although Azerbaijan-Slovakia relations began in the early years of independence, since 2019 these relations have developed in a more systematic and diversified way. In May 2024, the Joint Declaration on Establishing Strategic Partnership was signed in Baku, which further strengthened bilateral cooperation and raised the relations to a new level. Today, cooperation in specific areas shows clear progress and promises long-term prospects. The official visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Slovakia will also contribute to making the relations more intensive and comprehensive.

Commenting on Azerbaijan-Slovakia relations to AZERTAC, Agil Asadov, Head of division at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, said that the development of relations between any two countries strongly depends on friendly ties between top officials. In this sense, Azerbaijan-Slovakia relations cover various fields and promise long-term cooperation.

“First of all, Slovakia, as a member of the European Union (EU), buys natural gas from Azerbaijan and plays a role in bringing Azerbaijani gas to European markets. As we know, Azerbaijan contributes significantly to Europe’s energy security through the Southern Gas Corridor (TANAP/TAP). Currently, nearly half of Azerbaijan’s annual export of 25 billion cubic meters of natural gas is supplied to European markets. Eight EU member states buy Azerbaijani natural gas. In 2024, the first batch of Azerbaijani oil was processed at Slovakia’s oil refinery, which is an important step in bilateral cooperation,” he said.

Asadov added that Slovakia is advanced in the IT sector, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and data centers, and these areas require strong energy supply: “In the near future, Azerbaijan may export electricity to Slovakia. By 2030, Azerbaijan plans to produce up to 8 gigawatts of energy from alternative sources, and the main part of this energy will be exported.”

According to him, Azerbaijan-Slovakia economic relations are not limited only to the energy sector but are much broader.

“Slovakia attracts investments from transnational companies and has become a leading European producer of automobiles such as ‘Volkswagen’, ‘Kia’, and others. This creates new opportunities for cooperation in the future. Most importantly, investments from global companies show that Slovakia is seen as a stable and reliable partner that follows consistent policies within the EU. Similarly, Azerbaijan also attracts international attention and investment thanks to its stability and well-planned political decisions. This is an important factor for developing relations between the two countries,” he said.

Asadov noted that Azerbaijan-Slovakia cooperation also contributes to the restoration of territories liberated from occupation: “A contract has been signed with a Slovak company for the construction of private houses in the village of Bash Garvand in Aghdam, and the company has already started construction work.”

One of the long-term cooperation areas between the two countries is the defense industry. With Azerbaijan’s investments and Slovakia’s defense industry capabilities, successful joint results can be achieved, while Azerbaijan continues to follow a peace-oriented policy.

Another important direction of bilateral cooperation is transport and logistics. Slovakia has been involved for several years in international transport projects that include Azerbaijan. In particular, the two countries are working together to expand the potential of the Middle Corridor. Joint financial contributions to transport projects are also planned, which will further support the development of bilateral relations.

Overall, the President’s first official visit to Slovakia, the Slovak officials’ visit to Azerbaijan in November this year, the discussions between the leaders at various international events, and the signing of the strategic partnership document all give confidence that Azerbaijan-Slovakia relations will continue to develop rapidly in the future.