Azerbaijani president, European Council head meet in Baku

MOSCOW

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has begun a one-on-one meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Baku, which is viewed as critical in light of Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the major waterway that transports 20% of global oil from the Persian Gulf.

The President's Office press service issued a statement, which included a joint photo of the two officials taken prior to the meeting.

Azerbaijan is one of the world's key suppliers of energy resources. Costa's visit takes place against the backdrop of the threat of a global energy crisis caused by the confrontation between Iran on one side and the US and Israel on the other.

The conflict in the Middle East has blocked energy supplies. Under these circumstances, the EU is seeking opportunities to compensate for the shortfall in volumes.

Earlier, upon his arrival in Baku, Costa called Azerbaijan "a key partner for the European Union" in a statement published on the US social media company X, accompanied by a photo of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the center of Baku.

"Today in Baku, looking forward to meeting with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan," he wrote.

Costa highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, saying relations gained new momentum over the past year.

"We are committed to further deepening cooperation in the areas of security, energy, digital technologies, and transport. We will also discuss the latest developments in light of the rapidly changing geopolitical situation," he said