When Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš touched down in Azerbaijan on 27 April, he made a point of noting publicly that Baku was his first destination outside the European Union. This was a calculated message from heads of state who wish to communicate to their domestic and international audiences that they have taken their ties to the next level. The leader did not come simply to pay a courtesy call but came with 50 representatives of his companies, a semi-state energy company looking for a long-term contract on natural gas, a defense company showcasing its latest training airplane, and a metro company trying to secure one of the largest infrastructure deals in Baku’s recent history. Four other European leaders had already paid visits to Azerbaijan in the seven days prior to his landing.

What makes them come here is actually clear...

After three months of the Iran situation, one-fifth of global energy production via the Strait of Hormuz is affected. The tight European energy market has been further squeezed with political pressure on securing supplies other than Russian and Middle Eastern sources becoming critical. Azerbaijan, which provides gas to 16 countries with 10 of them being EU states, and has promised to increase gas exports to Europe twofold by 2027, has become strategically important in a way it was not just two years ago. The BTC pipeline does not go through either Russia or Iran. The Southern Gas Corridor does not use either route. And the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad does not run through either. When EU policymakers seek alternatives to the two supply routes disrupted, the state positioned along the route not being utilized has a packed agenda.

What are the statistics saying?

16 Countries receiving gas from Azerbaijan, 10 of which are EU members. Bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic from January to November 2025 reached around $807 million, with 42% consisting of Azerbaijani oil. Bilateral trade between Ukraine and Azerbaijan by April 2026 has reached half a billion, with SOCAR actively involved in the Ukrainian market. One more important statistic is that the total foreign investment in Azerbaijan's economy over the past 20 years is $350 billion.

Among all these visits, Babiš' visit is the one that holds the highest economic weight. There is a strong economic connection between the Czech Republic and Baku. As was admitted by Aliyev, the nature of their economic relations........

© AzerNews