Lead
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Berlin on Tuesday, signing a series of economic agreements aimed at deepening Germany's access to Baku's gas reserves and transit routes. The talks, as reported by Deutsche Welle and RFI, focused on energy issues and the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Coverage comparison
Deutsche Welle reported that Chancellor Merz was to hold talks with Aliyev in Berlin, with the focus expected to be on energy and trade in raw materials, as well as the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The German government said the talks would touch on remaining tensions over Nagorno-Karabakh and other territorial issues. RFI's coverage confirmed that the two leaders signed a series of economic agreements and noted that Azerbaijan began supplying gas to Germany this year.
Both outlets reported the meeting as part of Germany's broader effort to diversify its energy supply amid the EU's move away from Russian energy imports. While Deutsche Welle's framing emphasized energy and trade issues, RFI provided an analytical perspective, highlighting Azerbaijan's desire to balance its relationships with Europe and Russia.
Key claims
Azerbaijan began supplying gas to Germany this year, as reported by RFI, as the EU moves away from Russian energy imports. Berlin's interest in Baku is largely economic, with Aliyev noting Germany's role as the leading country of the European Union and its increasing influence in the South Caucasus.
The talks also featured the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Merz congratulated Aliyev on the initialling of the peace agreement with Armenia, calling it a "historic agreement" offering "a new opportunity to permanently overcome the long-standing conflict," as quoted by RFI. However, the text, initialled at a White House ceremony last August, still awaits changes to Armenia's constitution demanded by Baku before a final signature.
According to RFI, the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Agenda for Bilateral Partners and established an Azerbaijan-Germany Business Council. Aliyev said, "I am confident that the documents signed today will elevate our relations to a new level," and noted that a strategic dialogue had been launched.
The talks were part of a broader diplomatic engagement. Aliyev was first received by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier before being welcomed by Merz with full military honors, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
In a separate development reported by Deutsche Welle, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt was set to present a 2025 report on sexual crimes against minors in Germany, and an anti-racism association was to present an annual report on far-right, racist violence.