The reception of Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on October 23 brought the prospects for the development of relations between the two countries back to the agenda. Opportunities for cooperation in political, economic, and high-technology fields were discussed at the meeting.
In a statement to Modern.az, political scientist Elkhan Shahinoglu said that the visit of the Indian Foreign Minister to Baku can be considered a continuation of the meeting of the two countries' leaders in Bishkek:
“The Indian Foreign Minister stated that he came to Baku at the instruction of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ilham Aliyev also recalled with satisfaction the meeting with Narendra Modi in Bishkek and the exchange of views held at that time. The parties discussed the prospects for cooperation in political, economic, high-technology, cultural, and humanitarian fields. The importance of intensifying political contacts and mutual visits at various levels for the development of bilateral relations was also emphasized.”
According to the political scientist, India's interest in expanding relations with Azerbaijan is also evident in the energy sector. He noted that the intention of Indian companies to invest in Azerbaijan's oil and gas sector is noteworthy in this regard:
“It is no coincidence that Subramanyam Jaishankar stated that Indian companies are interested in investing in the oil and gas sector. India was one of the main buyers of Azerbaijani oil a few years ago, and trade turnover between the two countries approached 1 billion dollars. India's demand for energy resources and its search for alternative supply sources can increase Azerbaijan's importance for this country.”
Elkhan Shahinoglu believes that India's interests are not limited to energy resources. According to him, the transportation of Central Asian oil to world markets via Azerbaijan and international transport corridors are also in the focus of New Delhi's attention:
“The North-South transport corridor, in which Azerbaijan is a participant, is one of the important routes for India. India is also interested in the development of Iran's Chabahar port. Although an agreement on the management of the port was signed in 2024, wars and tensions in the region have made the implementation of these plans difficult. Nevertheless, it cannot be said that India has abandoned its plans related to the port.”
The political scientist emphasized that the Chabahar port can create opportunities for India to access the markets of Central Asia and the wider region. In his opinion, economic and geopolitical interests also lie behind the expansion of dialogue with Azerbaijan:
“India aims to gain access to the markets of Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Russia through the Chabahar port. Therefore, Azerbaijan's transport and logistics capabilities and its position in the region are important for New Delhi. This factor also plays a role in India's decision to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan.”
