partnership could be an effective tool in
strengthening
and
supporting
U.S.
diplomacy, as well as counterbalancing the
Iran-Russia axis in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia.
Modernizing the Azerbaijani Army as
part of this defense cooperation is clearly the
next and most important strategic dimension
for Baku in its relations with Jerusalem.
From 1992 to 1994, Israel supported
Azerbaijan in a war with Armenia,
supplying Stinger missiles and other
weapons to Azerbaijani troops.
31
Moreover,
the Jews of Azerbaijan fought together with
Azeris against the Armenians during this
war. Albert Agarunov, an Azerbaijani Army
officer and a Mountain Jew, became a
national hero in Azerbaijan following the
war.
32
More recently, in February 2012, as
part of this bilateral defense cooperation,
Azerbaijan signed a deal to purchase $1.6
billion worth of arms from Israel.
33
Last, Azerbaijan views its relations with
Israel as part of a long-term strategy to
develop close ties with the United States, in
order to contain Iranian and Russian threats.
Though Israeli-Azerbaijani cooperation has
expanded to include foreign policy, the
military,
economy,
and
intelligence,
Azerbaijan does not have a diplomatic
mission in Israel for fear of jeopardizing its
relations with Muslim countries. Moreover,
both sides do not want to publicize their
relations.
Azerbaijani
President
Ilham
Aliyev described his country’s relationship
with the Jewish state as being like an
iceberg: "nine-tenths of it is below the
surface."
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