UK and Azerbaijan sign strategic partnership in Dublin
The United Kingdom and Azerbaijan have signed a joint declaration elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership, covering defence, trade, energy, education and technology.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed the declaration in Dublin on 12 November 2026, during the ninth European Political Community summit. The text was published by the UK government the same day.
The declaration builds on two earlier agreements between the two countries: a joint declaration on friendship and cooperation from 23 February 1994 and a declaration on friendly relations and partnership from 21 July 1998.
Three pillars of the deal
The partnership is organised around three pillars: defence and security; trade, investment and growth; and education and innovation. The two governments have agreed to hold an annual Strategic Partnership meeting to review progress across all three and agree practical follow-up.
On defence and security, the declaration commits the two sides to deeper cooperation on training, capacity building and interoperability, as well as law-enforcement partnerships, border management and judicial cooperation. It also reaffirms UK support for efforts towards lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, welcoming the steps taken since the Washington Peace Summit Declaration of 8 August 2025.
Trade, energy and the Middle Corridor
On trade and investment, the two countries say they will broaden and deepen bilateral trade and promote sustainable and diversified economic growth, with priority sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure and services.
The declaration also backs development of the Middle Corridor, the transport route linking Asia and Europe, alongside transport, logistics and infrastructure projects that support cross-border trade. The two sides will cooperate on the clean energy transition, including renewable energy, green finance and low-carbon technologies.
The Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation is named as the main platform for advancing joint work on investment, economic diversification, Middle Corridor development and energy cooperation.
Education, AI and life sciences
The third pillar covers education and innovation. The two governments will deepen cooperation in higher education, vocational education and training, digital and technical skills, and training for executives and public-sector employees.
It also calls for partnerships between universities, research institutions and industry, with work on digitalisation, emerging technologies and life sciences, including exchanges of expertise on artificial intelligence, digital governance and innovation.
What the declaration does not say
The published text sets out no funding total, no list of approved projects and no date for the first annual Strategic Partnership meeting. Cooperation under the declaration is subject to the availability of resources and to the laws and regulations of each country, so delivery will depend on follow-up decisions in London and Baku.
