Israeli F-16I Aircraft | Photo: IDF Spokesperson
The Obama administration fears that the strengthening relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan is bringing an Israeli attack on neighboring Iran closer. The Turks are also unhappy.
Source: Haaretz | March 29, 2012
The Obama administration believes that the secret military relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan significantly increases the likelihood of an Israeli attack on Iran, according to a report published last night (Thursday) in the American biweekly Foreign Policy. Senior officials in the U.S. administration and military intelligence revealed in the article that the U.S. has concluded that Israel has gained access to Azerbaijani air force bases near Iran’s northern border. “The Israelis bought an airfield,” a senior official in the administration told the newspaper a month ago, “and that airfield is called ‘Azerbaijan.'”
According to the report, U.S. military intelligence is deeply concerned about the deepening Israeli-Azeri relationship as part of Israel’s efforts to target Iran’s nuclear program. One source cited in the article stated that the U.S. military now believes it must prepare not only for a war in the Persian Gulf but also for a scenario involving the Caucasus region.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that the Azerbaijani military has four abandoned air force bases from the Soviet era that could be available for Israeli use, in addition to four active Azerbaijani air force bases.
According to Foreign Policy, the strengthening of military cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan also represents a crucial factor in both countries’ relations with Turkey—an important regional player concerned about a war that could impact its economy and political stability. The article claims that a senior Turkish government official expressed his concerns to the U.S. administration as well as to the Azerbaijani government. Neither Israeli nor Azerbaijani officials responded to the report.
During a recent visit by Azerbaijan’s defense minister to Tehran, he ruled out his country’s involvement in any military action against Iran. “The Republic of Azerbaijan, as always, will never allow any country to use its territory against the Islamic Republic of Iran—which is like a brother to us and a friendly country,” he said.
However, despite these firm statements, according to one senior U.S. official interviewed in the article, the Azerbaijani defense minister did not explicitly rule out the possibility of Israeli air force planes landing in Azerbaijan after bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities. He also did not reject the presence of Israeli search and rescue teams on Azerbaijani soil. The official claimed that these conditions would make it easier for Israel to strike Iran.
“We are closely monitoring Iran,” said a senior U.S. intelligence official, “but we are also watching what Israel is doing with Azerbaijan. And we are not happy about it.”
Israel’s security ties with the Azerbaijani government in Baku became even more significant last February when Azerbaijan’s defense industry purchased Israeli drones and anti-aircraft missiles in a $1.6 billion deal. This development comes amid worsening Azerbaijan-Iran relations.
Last month, Iran summoned the Azerbaijani ambassador in Tehran, accusing his country of helping Israel prepare for an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities—an allegation Azerbaijan dismissed as “slander.”
Another source interviewed for the article claimed that the military deal between Israel and Azerbaijan angered Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, especially in light of Turkey’s cancellation of a $150 million deal with Israel for the development and production of drones for the Turkish military.
