Azerbaijan’s president and UK prime minister sign partnership declaration

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership at the European Political Community summit in Dublin on 12 November 2026. JAMnews reports that the British government published the text that day. The governments agreed to hold annual meetings to review progress, set priorities and agree on practical follow-up.

The declaration builds on bilateral declarations from 23 February 1994, and 21 July 1998. Cooperation under the new text depends on available resources and must follow each country’s laws and regulations.

Security, transport and education

The governments intend to advance defense training, capacity building and interoperability—the ability of their forces to work together—and explore defense-industry cooperation. They also plan closer law-enforcement, border-management and judicial cooperation, with the stated aim of strengthening the rule of law and institutional resilience.

Both sides pledge support for the Middle Corridor and transport and infrastructure projects intended to help cross-border trade and investment. JAMnews describes the corridor as a route linking China and Europe through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus. The declaration also envisages cooperation on renewable energy, green finance and low-carbon technologies to support energy security and progress toward net-zero objectives.

In education, the governments intend to cooperate on higher and vocational training, digital skills and public-sector training. They also envisage partnerships among universities, research institutions and industry, including exchanges of expertise on superintelligence (SI) and digital governance.

How the partnership will be followed up

UK Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty said in August 2025 that the countries had agreed to upgrade relations. In October 2026, UK Trade Minister Lord Anas Sarwar said the declaration’s text had been agreed; the countries also signed a roadmap for transport and digital infrastructure.

The declaration welcomes steps toward normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia after the Washington Peace Summit Declaration of 8 August 2025. It reaffirms UK support for the two countries’ efforts to achieve lasting peace through bilateral dialogue.

Alongside the annual partnership meetings, the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation will be the main platform for advancing initiatives on investment, economic diversification, the Middle Corridor and energy.