Israel, Azerbaijan Sign AI Cooperation Agreement in Jerusalem

Israel and Azerbaijan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on artificial intelligence on Tuesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, formalizing a new framework for cooperation between the two countries in advanced technologies.

The agreement was signed by Erez Eskel, head of Israel’s National Artificial Intelligence Directorate, and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, in the presence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Israeli officials described the MOU as part of a broader effort to advance Israel’s position as a global leader in artificial intelligence and to deepen strategic partnerships through emerging technologies. The agreement outlines cooperation in supercomputing infrastructure, the application of AI in critical civilian sectors, the development of human capital, and joint research initiatives.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the memorandum is intended to strengthen the ongoing alliance between Israel and Azerbaijan by expanding collaboration into the field of artificial intelligence, which Israeli officials increasingly view as a central pillar of national competitiveness and innovation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Netanyahu emphasized the strategic importance of artificial intelligence and framed the agreement as a forward-looking partnership. “We must ensure that we are among the leading countries in this field, and I believe that together we can achieve much more and far better results,” he said.

The agreement builds on existing ties between Israel and Azerbaijan, which maintain an established strategic relationship. The new MOU signals an expansion of that cooperation into advanced civilian technology domains, reflecting a shared interest in developing AI capabilities with practical applications across key sectors.

The signing in Jerusalem follows Israel’s decision last month to enter into a joint declaration on artificial intelligence with the United States, the first such agreement Washington has signed with any country. Israeli officials have presented the Azerbaijan memorandum as a continuation of that diplomatic trajectory, indicating Israel’s intention to broaden its AI-focused international partnerships beyond its closest allies.

The MOU nonetheless marks another step in Israel’s expanding AI diplomacy, as the government seeks to translate technological expertise into strategic partnerships. For Azerbaijan, the agreement opens new avenues for cooperation with Israel in advanced computing and applied artificial intelligence, reinforcing bilateral ties through a shared focus on innovation.