Skip next section Merz to sign agreement with Azerbaijan's Aliyev after talks

07/21/2026July 21, 2026

Merz to sign agreement with Azerbaijan's Aliyev after talks

Ilham Aliev has been president of Azerbaijan since 2003Image: Azerbaijan Presidency/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO

Chancellor Friedrich Merz is to hold talks with Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, in Berlin on Tuesday, with the focus expected to be on issues such as energy and trade in raw materials.

The talks will also touch on the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia amid remaining tensions over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other territorial issues, the German government has said.

Azerbaijan derives most of its state revenue from the sale of oil and natural gas, including to the European Union.

Ahead of the talks, Aliyev will first be received by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier earlier in the morning, before being welcomed by Merz with full military honors.

https://p.dw.com/p/5HT3u

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage

07/21/2026July 21, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

A hearty guten Tagfrom DW's newsroom in Bonn to all our readers!

Tuesday is shaping up to be a day of reports in Germany.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is to join Holger Munch, the president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), in presenting a 2025 review of the situation regarding sexual crimes against minors.

An association for victims of racist violence will also be presenting its annual report for 2025, which is expected to show an alarmingly high level of such offenses.

And the charity organization Caritas will also be giving its donation results for 2025 along with a review of current humanitarian crisis zones and the problems caused by dwindling financial resources.

Alongside all of this, Chancellor Merz will be hosting Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev, one of the longest-serving presidents in Europe.

Read on here for more details on these and other stories.

https://p.dw.com/p/5HT76