diff --git a/litellm/llms/azure/azure.py b/litellm/llms/azure/azure.py
index 5ee9065f5e12..5d09b5f16024 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/azure/azure.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/azure/azure.py
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ def completion(  # noqa: PLR0915
         acompletion: bool = False,
         headers: Optional[dict] = None,
         client=None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         if headers:
             optional_params["extra_headers"] = headers
@@ -281,6 +282,7 @@ def completion(  # noqa: PLR0915
                         max_retries=max_retries,
                         convert_tool_call_to_json_mode=json_mode,
                         litellm_params=litellm_params,
+                        connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     )
             elif "stream" in optional_params and optional_params["stream"] is True:
                 return self.streaming(
@@ -317,6 +319,11 @@ def completion(  # noqa: PLR0915
                     raise AzureOpenAIError(
                         status_code=422, message="max retries must be an int"
                     )
+                # Add connect_timeout to litellm_params if provided
+                if connect_timeout is not None:
+                    if litellm_params is None:
+                        litellm_params = {}
+                    litellm_params["connect_timeout"] = connect_timeout
                 # init AzureOpenAI Client
                 azure_client = self.get_azure_openai_client(
                     api_version=api_version,
@@ -387,9 +394,15 @@ async def acompletion(
         convert_tool_call_to_json_mode: Optional[bool] = None,
         client=None,  # this is the AsyncAzureOpenAI
         litellm_params: Optional[dict] = {},
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         response = None
         try:
+            # Add connect_timeout to litellm_params if provided
+            if connect_timeout is not None:
+                if litellm_params is None:
+                    litellm_params = {}
+                litellm_params["connect_timeout"] = connect_timeout
             # setting Azure client
             azure_client = self.get_azure_openai_client(
                 api_version=api_version,
diff --git a/litellm/llms/azure/chat/o_series_handler.py b/litellm/llms/azure/chat/o_series_handler.py
index 2f3e9e639968..bc1044ffda21 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/azure/chat/o_series_handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/azure/chat/o_series_handler.py
@@ -38,7 +38,13 @@ def completion(
         organization: Optional[str] = None,
         custom_llm_provider: Optional[str] = None,
         drop_params: Optional[bool] = None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
+        # Add connect_timeout to litellm_params if provided
+        if connect_timeout is not None:
+            if litellm_params is None:
+                litellm_params = {}
+            litellm_params["connect_timeout"] = connect_timeout
         client = self.get_azure_openai_client(
             litellm_params=litellm_params,
             api_key=api_key,
diff --git a/litellm/llms/azure/common_utils.py b/litellm/llms/azure/common_utils.py
index 94abd2f814e7..ccc90f3d3287 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/azure/common_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/azure/common_utils.py
@@ -590,7 +590,14 @@ def initialize_azure_sdk_client(
         if max_retries is not None:
             azure_client_params["max_retries"] = max_retries
         if timeout is not None:
-            azure_client_params["timeout"] = timeout
+            # Check if we have a separate connect_timeout
+            connect_timeout = litellm_params.get("connect_timeout")
+            if connect_timeout is not None and isinstance(timeout, (int, float)):
+                # Create httpx.Timeout object with separate connect timeout
+                import httpx
+                azure_client_params["timeout"] = httpx.Timeout(timeout=timeout, connect=connect_timeout)
+            else:
+                azure_client_params["timeout"] = timeout
 
         if azure_ad_token_provider is not None:
             azure_client_params["azure_ad_token_provider"] = azure_ad_token_provider
diff --git a/litellm/llms/azure/completion/handler.py b/litellm/llms/azure/completion/handler.py
index a44f90457124..0ae354d9cd72 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/azure/completion/handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/azure/completion/handler.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ def completion(  # noqa: PLR0915
         acompletion: bool = False,
         headers: Optional[dict] = None,
         client=None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         try:
             if model is None or messages is None:
@@ -143,6 +144,11 @@ def completion(  # noqa: PLR0915
                     raise AzureOpenAIError(
                         status_code=422, message="max retries must be an int"
                     )
+                # Add connect_timeout to litellm_params if provided
+                if connect_timeout is not None:
+                    if litellm_params is None:
+                        litellm_params = {}
+                    litellm_params["connect_timeout"] = connect_timeout
                 # init AzureOpenAI Client
                 azure_client = self.get_azure_openai_client(
                     api_key=api_key,
diff --git a/litellm/llms/openai/completion/handler.py b/litellm/llms/openai/completion/handler.py
index fa31c487cd27..7b3b3714448b 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/openai/completion/handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/openai/completion/handler.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ def completion(
         client=None,
         organization: Optional[str] = None,
         headers: Optional[dict] = None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         try:
             if headers is None:
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ def completion(
                         organization=organization,
                     )
                 else:
-                    return self.acompletion(api_base=api_base, data=data, headers=headers, model_response=model_response, api_key=api_key, logging_obj=logging_obj, model=model, timeout=timeout, max_retries=max_retries, organization=organization, client=client)  # type: ignore
+                    return self.acompletion(api_base=api_base, data=data, headers=headers, model_response=model_response, api_key=api_key, logging_obj=logging_obj, model=model, timeout=timeout, max_retries=max_retries, organization=organization, client=client, connect_timeout=connect_timeout)  # type: ignore
             elif optional_params.get("stream", False):
                 return self.streaming(
                     logging_obj=logging_obj,
@@ -111,11 +112,17 @@ def completion(
                 )
             else:
                 if client is None:
+                    # Handle connect_timeout by creating httpx.Timeout object if needed
+                    _timeout = timeout
+                    if connect_timeout is not None and isinstance(timeout, (int, float)):
+                        import httpx
+                        _timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout=timeout, connect=connect_timeout)
+                    
                     openai_client = OpenAI(
                         api_key=api_key,
                         base_url=api_base,
                         http_client=litellm.client_session,
-                        timeout=timeout,
+                        timeout=_timeout,
                         max_retries=max_retries,  # type: ignore
                         organization=organization,
                     )
@@ -162,14 +169,21 @@ async def acompletion(
         max_retries: int,
         organization: Optional[str] = None,
         client=None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         try:
             if client is None:
+                # Handle connect_timeout by creating httpx.Timeout object if needed
+                _timeout = timeout
+                if connect_timeout is not None and isinstance(timeout, (int, float)):
+                    import httpx
+                    _timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout=timeout, connect=connect_timeout)
+                
                 openai_aclient = AsyncOpenAI(
                     api_key=api_key,
                     base_url=api_base,
                     http_client=litellm.aclient_session,
-                    timeout=timeout,
+                    timeout=_timeout,
                     max_retries=max_retries,
                     organization=organization,
                 )
diff --git a/litellm/llms/openai/openai.py b/litellm/llms/openai/openai.py
index 1f3cf24457d8..40f0a7a24e17 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/openai/openai.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/openai/openai.py
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ def _get_openai_client(
         max_retries: Optional[int] = DEFAULT_MAX_RETRIES,
         organization: Optional[str] = None,
         client: Optional[Union[OpenAI, AsyncOpenAI]] = None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ) -> Optional[Union[OpenAI, AsyncOpenAI]]:
         client_initialization_params: Dict = locals()
         if client is None:
@@ -375,12 +376,17 @@ def _get_openai_client(
                     cached_client, AsyncOpenAI
                 ):
                     return cached_client
+            # Handle connect_timeout by creating httpx.Timeout object if needed
+            _timeout = timeout
+            if connect_timeout is not None and isinstance(timeout, (int, float)):
+                _timeout = httpx.Timeout(timeout=timeout, connect=connect_timeout)
+            
             if is_async:
                 _new_client: Union[OpenAI, AsyncOpenAI] = AsyncOpenAI(
                     api_key=api_key,
                     base_url=api_base,
                     http_client=OpenAIChatCompletion._get_async_http_client(),
-                    timeout=timeout,
+                    timeout=_timeout,
                     max_retries=max_retries,
                     organization=organization,
                 )
@@ -389,7 +395,7 @@ def _get_openai_client(
                     api_key=api_key,
                     base_url=api_base,
                     http_client=OpenAIChatCompletion._get_sync_http_client(),
-                    timeout=timeout,
+                    timeout=_timeout,
                     max_retries=max_retries,
                     organization=organization,
                 )
@@ -522,6 +528,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
         organization: Optional[str] = None,
         custom_llm_provider: Optional[str] = None,
         drop_params: Optional[bool] = None,
+        connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     ):
         super().completion()
         try:
@@ -644,6 +651,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                             max_retries=max_retries,
                             organization=organization,
                             client=client,
+                            connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                         )
 
                         ## LOGGING
@@ -793,6 +801,7 @@ async def acompletion(
                     max_retries=max_retries,
                     organization=organization,
                     client=client,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 )
 
                 ## LOGGING
@@ -964,6 +973,7 @@ async def async_streaming(
                     max_retries=max_retries,
                     organization=organization,
                     client=client,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 )
                 ## LOGGING
                 logging_obj.pre_call(
diff --git a/litellm/main.py b/litellm/main.py
index 339d9e144062..13260dd392c6 100644
--- a/litellm/main.py
+++ b/litellm/main.py
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ async def acompletion(
     functions: Optional[List] = None,
     function_call: Optional[str] = None,
     timeout: Optional[Union[float, int]] = None,
+    connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     temperature: Optional[float] = None,
     top_p: Optional[float] = None,
     n: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -397,6 +398,7 @@ async def acompletion(
         api_key (str, optional): API key (default is None).
         model_list (list, optional): List of api base, version, keys
         timeout (float, optional): The maximum execution time in seconds for the completion request.
+        connect_timeout (float, optional): The maximum time in seconds to wait for connection handshaking to complete.
 
         LITELLM Specific Params
         mock_response (str, optional): If provided, return a mock completion response for testing or debugging purposes (default is None).
@@ -463,6 +465,7 @@ async def acompletion(
         "functions": functions,
         "function_call": function_call,
         "timeout": timeout,
+        "connect_timeout": connect_timeout,
         "temperature": temperature,
         "top_p": top_p,
         "n": n,
@@ -877,6 +880,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
     # Optional OpenAI params: see https://platform.openai.com/docs/api-reference/chat/create
     messages: List = [],
     timeout: Optional[Union[float, str, httpx.Timeout]] = None,
+    connect_timeout: Optional[float] = None,
     temperature: Optional[float] = None,
     top_p: Optional[float] = None,
     n: Optional[int] = None,
@@ -1130,6 +1134,11 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
         elif not isinstance(timeout, httpx.Timeout):
             timeout = float(timeout)  # type: ignore
 
+        ### CONNECT TIMEOUT LOGIC ###
+        connect_timeout = connect_timeout or kwargs.get("connect_timeout", None)
+        if connect_timeout is not None:
+            connect_timeout = float(connect_timeout)
+
         ### REGISTER CUSTOM MODEL PRICING -- IF GIVEN ###
         if input_cost_per_token is not None and output_cost_per_token is not None:
             litellm.register_model(
@@ -1440,6 +1449,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     logging_obj=logging,
                     acompletion=acompletion,
                     timeout=timeout,  # type: ignore
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     client=client,  # pass AsyncAzureOpenAI, AzureOpenAI client
                     custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
                 )
@@ -1472,6 +1482,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     logging_obj=logging,
                     acompletion=acompletion,
                     timeout=timeout,  # type: ignore
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     client=client,  # pass AsyncAzureOpenAI, AzureOpenAI client
                 )
 
@@ -1545,6 +1556,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                 logging_obj=logging,
                 acompletion=acompletion,
                 timeout=timeout,
+                connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 client=client,  # pass AsyncAzureOpenAI, AzureOpenAI client
             )
 
@@ -1721,6 +1733,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                 litellm_params=litellm_params,
                 logger_fn=logger_fn,
                 timeout=timeout,  # type: ignore
+                connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
             )
 
             if (
@@ -1839,6 +1852,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                 litellm_params=litellm_params,
                 custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
                 timeout=timeout,
+                connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 headers=headers,
                 encoding=encoding,
                 api_key=api_key,
@@ -2000,6 +2014,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     client=client,  # pass AsyncOpenAI, OpenAI client
                     organization=organization,
                     custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 )
             except Exception as e:
                 ## LOGGING - log the original exception returned
@@ -2208,6 +2223,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                 timeout=timeout,
                 client=client,
                 custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+                connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
             )
             if optional_params.get("stream", False) or acompletion is True:
                 ## LOGGING
@@ -2685,6 +2701,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                 timeout=timeout,
                 custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
                 client=client,
+                connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                 api_base=api_base,
                 extra_headers=extra_headers,
             )
@@ -2983,6 +3000,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     logging_obj=logging,
                     extra_headers=extra_headers,
                     timeout=timeout,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     acompletion=acompletion,
                     client=client,
                     api_base=api_base,
@@ -3001,6 +3019,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     litellm_params=litellm_params,
                     custom_llm_provider="bedrock",
                     timeout=timeout,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     headers=headers,
                     encoding=encoding,
                     api_key=api_key,
@@ -3019,6 +3038,7 @@ def completion(  # type: ignore # noqa: PLR0915
                     litellm_params=litellm_params,
                     custom_llm_provider="bedrock",
                     timeout=timeout,
+                    connect_timeout=connect_timeout,
                     headers=headers,
                     encoding=encoding,
                     api_key=api_key,