German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday. In the conversation, the two leaders discussed the war in the Middle East and its ramifications for the South Caucasus, the government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said.

Merz also expressed support for the ongoing peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing its importance for regional stability. According to Kornelius, both politicians see opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties and to deepen Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union.