Duncan Norman pledges to further strengthen London-Baku partnership

Defense ties between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan are currently at their highest level in the history of bilateral cooperation, the newly appointed UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Duncan Norman, said at an event marking the birthday of King Charles III.

According to Report, the ambassador noted that during his diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan he intends to work towards further expanding and strengthening the partnership between London and Baku.

"I have the privilege of building on more than three decades of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan, which has now evolved into a strategic partnership. Our relationship began with energy: investments by BP helped shape the modern economic history of Azerbaijan, and we continue to build on this strong foundation. But our partnership extends far beyond energy. Our defense ties are stronger than ever. We are working together to combat the illegal cross-border smuggling of goods. British companies are actively engaged in aviation, infrastructure, finance, and artificial intelligence," he said.

Norman stressed that the United Kingdom is proud to support demining efforts in Karabakh, helping local communities recover and return to normal life.

"Beyond security and business, our ties continue to deepen. In many ways, we view the world through the same lens. The growing number of Azerbaijani students choosing to study in the United Kingdom reflects the strength of these ties and the outstanding work of the British Council. But the real connection that truly matters is the connection between our peoples," the ambassador noted.