Israel inks Arms deal with Azerbejain | Azerbaijan-Iran relations to detoriate ?

[Singh]

Israel inks $1.6 billion arms deal with Azerbaijan
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Israel to sell drones, anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, defense officials say


Israel to sell drones, anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, defense officials say

Israeli defense officials on Sunday confirmed $1.6 billion in deals to sell drones as well as anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, bringing sophisticated Israeli technology to the doorstep of archenemy Iran.

The sales by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries come at a delicate time. Israel has been laboring hard to form diplomatic alliances in a region that seems to be growing increasingly hostile to the Jewish state.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's nuclear program will take center stage in his upcoming talks with US and Canadian leaders. Netanyahu is to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa on Friday and with President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday.

It was not clear whether the arms deal with Azerbaijan was connected to any potential Israeli plans to strike Iran. The Israeli defense officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not at liberty to discuss defense deals.

Danny Yatom, a former head of Mossad, said the timing of the deal was likely coincidental. "Such a deal ... takes a long period of time to become ripe," he told The Associated Press.

He said Israel would continue to sell arms to its friends. "If it will help us in challenging Iran, it is for the better," he said.

Israel's ties with Azerbaijan, a Muslim country that became independent with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, have grown as its once-strong strategic relationship with another Iranian neighbor, Turkey, has deteriorated, most sharply over the Israeli raid that left nine Turks dead aboard a ship that sought to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010.

For Israeli intelligence, there is also a possible added benefit from Azerbaijan: Its significant cross-border contacts and trade with Iran's large ethnic Azeri community.

For that same reason, as Iran's nuclear showdown with the West deepens, the Islamic Republic sees the Azeri frontier as a weak point, even though both countries are mostly Shiite Muslim.

Earlier this month, Iran's Foreign Ministry accused Azerbaijan of allowing Mossad agents to operate on its territory and providing a corridor for "terrorists" to kill members of Iranian nuclear scientists.

Azerbaijan dismissed the Iranian claims as "slanderous lies." Israeli leaders have hinted at covert campaigns against Iran without directly admitting involvement.

Israel, meanwhile, recently claimed authorities foiled Iranian-sponsored attacks against Israeli targets in Azerbaijan. Such claims have precedents: In 2008, Azeri officials said they thwarted a plot to explode car bombs near the Israeli Embassy; two Lebanese men were later convicted in the bombing attempt. A year earlier, Azerbaijan convicted 15 people in connection with an alleged Iranian-linked spy network accused of passing intelligence on Western and Israeli activities.

Iran has denied Azerbaijan's latest charges of plotting to kill Israelis, but a diplomatic rupture is unlikely. Azerbaijan is an important pathway for Iranian goods in the Caucasus region and both nations have signed accords among Caspian nations on energy, environmental and shipping policies.

Israel inks $1.6 billion arms deal with Azerbaijan - Israel News, Ynetnews

 

[indian_sukhoi]

This new alliance might give Israel a backup plan for thier Pre-emptive strike. IAF could option to land in Azerbejain rather flying flying back all through home.

 

[ejazr]

Azerbaijan and Iran have never had good relations historically. So Israeli-Azeri ties are as logical as the covert ties with the GCC Arab countries in containing a nuclear Iran.

The problem started soon after Azerbaijan became independant of the USSR in the 1990s and the politicians there called for the unification of the Azeri majority populations of Iran which bordered Azerbaijan which alienated the Iranians. Later there was a war between Armenia(christian orthodox) and Azerbaijan(shia) where Iran supported Armenia to defeat Azerbaijan spoiling relations further. Both also charge each other of supporting sepratist groups in their countries as well.

Another example that shows that geo-politics and not religion plays the main role in the decision making process. Even for the "Islamic" republic of Iran.

 

[pankaj nema]

Azerbaijan and Iran have never had good relations historically. So Israeli-Azeri ties are as logical as the covert ties with the GCC Arab countries in containing a nuclear Iran.

The problem started soon after Azerbaijan became independant of the USSR in the 1990s and the politicians there called for the unification of the Azeri majority populations of Iran which bordered Azerbaijan which alienated the Iranians. Later there was a war between Armenia(christian orthodox) and Azerbaijan(shia) where Iran supported Armenia to defeat Azerbaijan spoiling relations further. Both also charge each other of supporting sepratist groups in their countries as well.

Another example that shows that geo-politics and not religion plays the main role in the decision making process. Even for the "Islamic" republic of Iran.

But Azerbaijan is one of the most liberal Islamic Nations like Turkey and Malaysia

Infact Azerbaijan calls itself as a secular democracy

 

[Virendra]

One more enemy. Bravo Iran, where are you going?

 

[ejazr]

But Azerbaijan is one of the most liberal Islamic Nations like Turkey and Malaysia

Infact Azerbaijan calls itself as a secular democracy

Yes it is a secular muslim majority country. Although democracy might stretching it a bit. Most central Asian states including Azerbaijan just have a modicum of democracy to be honest. Turkey and Malaysia are far ahead in being true democracies as compared with Azerbaijan

However, it doesnt' change of the points I listed above because as I said, religion really plays a secondary background role in geopolitics. I was just explaining that this is not really a "new" or surprising development because Azerbaijan and Iran have not had friendly relations since Azerbaijan got independence in 1991.

 

[asianobserve]

Iran warns Azerbaijan over Israeli 'arms buy': reports | Defense & Security News at DefenceTalk

"Iran challenged Azerbaijan on Tuesday over $1.5 billion in arms it said were purchased from arch-foe Israel, state media reported, in a sign of further strains between the neighbouring countries.

Azebaijan's ambassador to Tehran was called in to the foreign ministry* to explain the weapons and to receive a warning that Israel must not be permitted to use Azerbaijan to stage "terrorist acts"* against Iran.

xxx"



* And Iran has nukes yet...? Poor little neighbors...