According to i24NEWS, Herzog identified water management, agriculture, energy, healthcare, artificial intelligence and financial technology as areas for stronger ties. He linked that invitation to opposition to terrorism and boycotts, pointing to relations with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as examples of partnerships already established.
Bahrain and the Abraham Accords
Herzog's office said his meeting with Al-Zayani focused on strengthening the Abraham Accords and expanding regional peace and cooperation. The president emphasized the importance Israel attaches to its relationship with Bahrain and praised King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Bahraini government.
He also conveyed greetings to the king and the Bahraini people. The discussion placed the bilateral relationship within the wider goal of expanding regional peace, according to the Israeli presidency.
Holding the meeting in Baku allowed the Israeli and Bahraini representatives to speak directly alongside a broader Asian gathering. It also gave a concrete bilateral setting to the regional message Herzog delivered to the summit the following day.
A Strategic Relationship With Azerbaijan
Herzog met Aliyev at the Presidential Palace during a visit made at the Azerbaijani leader's invitation. The Israeli presidency said their discussion covered deeper strategic ties, regional developments and a shared commitment to stability and security.
Herzog described the partnership as one built over many years and valuable through difficult periods. He thanked Aliyev for the continuing dialogue and identified closer ties between their peoples and expanded cooperation as goals for the relationship.
Azerbaijan's presidency separately confirmed discussions of bilateral, regional and international issues. It said Herzog welcomed the extension of Azerbaijan's CICA chairmanship for 2026 to 2028. He described the decision as a sign of the trust placed in the country. Aliyev emphasized practical cooperation and efforts to build trust among the forum's members.
An Asian Forum With Different Positions
CICA stands for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. The Israeli presidency described the seventh summit as a gathering intended to strengthen cooperation and ties among Asian countries. The visit combined personal meetings with an opportunity to address a wider diplomatic audience.
The audience did not respond uniformly. i24NEWS reported that representatives of Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Pakistan and the Palestinian Authority left during Herzog's speech, while Qatar's emir remained and listened.
Herzog also recalled Israel’s involvement in the forum through an initiative by Shimon Peres in the 1990s, according to i24NEWS. He said Israel regarded itself as part of Asia and wanted to contribute to the continent’s development.
From a Political Invitation to Practical Fields
Herzog's address paired the objective of wider peace with specific areas where countries could work together. According to i24NEWS, he called for common interests and continuing engagement, while presenting regional partnerships as something that can develop through sustained cooperation.
He also praised Azerbaijan’s role in regional cooperation and its contacts across the region. According to i24NEWS, Herzog presented CICA as a place for partnership amid growing international divisions and weakening trust in multilateral institutions. His appeal was for participating countries to develop common interests through continued dialogue.
