World
Merz and Aliyev in Berlin: Germany seeks to import more Azerbaijani gas and oil
Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on July 21, 2026, according to Die Zeit. Following the meeting, Merz announced that Germany wants to significantly increase its imports of Azerbaijani gas and oil. The existing contract provides for 1.5 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas annually—less than 2% of German gas consumption. Azerbaijan has been supplying gas to Germany since early 2026. The partnership remains controversial due to Aliyev's authoritarian rule and Azerbaijan's 2023 military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh.