Despite an official trade ban declared by Turkey against Israel on 2 May due to the “worsening humanitarian tragedy in Palestine,” Azerbaijani oil continues to be shipped to Israel from the Turkish port of Ceyhan, as reported by bne IntelliNews on Sunday, citing the Hebrew financial daily Globes.
The movement operates even after the Turkish government announced a comprehensive trade ban with Israel, indicating a continued discrepancy between Turkey’s official policy and economic activities.
Azerbaijan maintains strong ties with Israel, providing significant oil supplies through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
The bne IntelliNews report highlights substantial trade volumes between Turkey and Israel, with a significant flow of goods and services that are economically important for both countries. This includes the export of petroleum products from Israel to Turkey and a robust trade relationship worth approximately $6.2 billion annually.
There are indications of domestic and international political pressures influencing Turkey’s actions, including statements from Turkish political figures urging stronger international responses to the situation in Gaza. On Sunday, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main domestic rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, called on European countries to take a stronger stance against the ongoing war in Gaza, questioning their commitment to democratic values.
Caught between economic interests and political pressures, Erdoğan may have sought relief through Azerbaijan; however, the room to manoeuvre is rapidly shrinking.
