BAKU, Azerbaijan,
March 11. Europe’s search for reliable energy
partners increasingly leads to one place: Azerbaijan. That reality
will be in focus on March 11, when the President of the European
Council, António Costa, arrives in Baku for his first official
visit to Azerbaijan since taking office.

The trip, announced on March 6, is a bilateral visit and comes
at a time when Europe is reassessing its energy and geopolitical
priorities – with Azerbaijan emerging as one of the most important
partners in that process.

For the European Union, cooperation with Azerbaijan is built on
a long-standing foundation. The two sides have worked under the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement since 1999, and over the
years the EU has become Azerbaijan’s largest trading partner and a
major investor in the country’s economy. However, recent
geopolitical developments have elevated this relationship to a new
strategic level, particularly in the energy sector.

After the disruption of Russian gas supplies following the war
in Ukraine, the EU moved quickly to diversify its energy sources.
Azerbaijan emerged as one of the most reliable alternatives.
Through the Southern Gas Corridor – a 3,500-kilometer network
connecting the Caspian region with European markets – Azerbaijani
gas now flows directly to multiple European countries.

The growth of this cooperation is reflected in the numbers.
Azerbaijani gas exports to the EU stood at about 8.1 billion cubic
meters in 2021. By 2024 they had reached roughly 12.9 billion cubic
meters, and in 2025 supplies remained at around 12.5–12.8 billion
cubic meters – more than 50% higher than in 2021. Today Azerbaijani
gas accounts for around 4 percent of total EU gas imports and
reaches 10 EU member states, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria,
Romania, Hungary, Germany, and Austria. Overall, Azerbaijani
pipeline gas is now delivered to 16 countries.

The infrastructure behind this supply includes the
Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and the Trans Adriatic
Pipeline. Since commercial deliveries through TAP began, Azerbaijan
has earned roughly €24 billion from natural gas exports to European
buyers, demonstrating the scale of the partnership.

Exports are expected to grow further. Under the 2022 strategic
energy partnership signed in Baku between President of the European
Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President Ilham Aliyev, the two
sides aim to increase gas supplies to at least 20 billion cubic
meters (bcm) per year by 2027. Achieving this target will require
further infrastructure expansion and new production projects,
several of which are already planned for the coming years.

Costa’s visit is expected to focus on these expanding areas of
cooperation. According to official statements, discussions will
center on deepening the Strategic Energy Partnership, including
progress toward the 20 bcm supply target, as well as cooperation in
renewable energy, green hydrogen, electricity interconnectors, and
transport connectivity through the Middle Corridor. The agenda also
includes broader geopolitical discussions, particularly the rapidly
evolving situation in the Middle East. Analysts expect the visit to
reaffirm the EU–Azerbaijan partnership and highlight Azerbaijan’s
role as a stable energy supplier during a period of global
uncertainty.

A major factor behind this growing partnership has been the
leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Over the past two decades,
President Ilham Aliyev has pursued a pragmatic and balanced foreign
policy that strengthened cooperation with Europe while maintaining
diversified international partnerships. His direct role in
advancing major energy projects – including the Southern Gas
Corridor – has helped position Azerbaijan as a key contributor to
Europe’s energy security.

President Ilham Aliyev’s role has also contributed to stability
and long-term strategic planning as the foundation of Azerbaijan’s
international cooperation. Under his leadership, the country has
maintained uninterrupted energy deliveries while expanding
cooperation with Europe into new areas such as renewable energy and
regional connectivity.

Against this backdrop, Costa’s visit reflects a broader reality:
Azerbaijan is no longer just a regional energy producer. It is
becoming an essential partner for Europe’s energy security,
economic connectivity, and long-term transition toward a more
diversified and resilient energy system.