Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud) is scheduled to travel Wednesday evening to Baku, Azerbaijan for an official visit. Accompanying Gallant are his Chief of Staff Shachar Katz, Military Secretary Brig. Gen. Guy Markizano, and Director of the Policy and POL-MIL Bureau Dror Shalom. During the visit, which will take place between July 12-14th, Minister Gallant is expected to meet with the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, as well as with his counterpart Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Chief of the State Border Service Colonel General Elchin Guliyev, and other senior defense officials. The Minister and his delegation will participate in official wreath-laying and welcoming ceremonies at the ministries where he will be hosted. Related articles: Trilateral alliance: Steve Witkoff arrives in Azerbaijan 'Include Azerbaijan in Abraham Accords' Shas MK praises Muslim country in Knesset plenum Azerbaijan and the expansion of the Abraham Accords Gallant's visit aims to further strengthen the strategic ties between Israel and Azerbaijan in the fields of diplomacy, security and technology. It also aims to widen the defense and industrial cooperation between the countries. During the meetings, Gallant is expected to discuss shared security challenges, as well as opportunities to increase regional security and stability. Gallant's visit takes place against a backdrop of growing ties between the countries, which culminated in the opening of the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Israel in March of this year.
