Trump bets on Baku: why the US is returning to the South Caucasus with a new strategy

The visit of the head of the Azerbaijani state Ilham Aliyev to Washington marked the transition of relations between Azerbaijan and the USA to a qualitatively new level. This is evidenced by the intensive contacts between the parties.

And the Trump administration, taking advantage of changes in the global balance, is gradually building a systematic strategy in the region, writes the newspaper "Caspian".

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to prepare the Charter of Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and the USA opened a new page of cooperation and strategic partnership in the development of Azerbaijani-American interstate relations. This was also facilitated by the cancellation of the unfair 907th amendment to the "Freedom Support Act," adopted by the US Congress against our country in 1992. And the fact that this significant event took place during a meeting at the White House after 33 years, specifically with the participation of the head of the Azerbaijani state, testifies to the extremely high authority of President Ilham Aliyev on a global scale.

Regaining lost positions

As President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated, "today Azerbaijan does not need foreign aid. We are not dependent on foreign aid. Our economy is stable. Our external debt is just under 7% of our GDP. We ourselves have become a donor country." This is also of considerable importance and is taken into account by the American administration in building interaction.

In addition, the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between SOCAR and ExxonMobil during the visit is a continuation of the partnership that began within the framework of the national oil strategy laid down by the "Contract of the Century," but at a new stage.

If we add to this the intensive nature of bilateral negotiations between the USA and Azerbaijan that have been taking place recently, it becomes clear that Washington is seeking to regain positions in the South Caucasus that seemed to be permanently lost under Biden.

Thus, Azerbaijan and the USA are discussing the expansion of energy cooperation. Recently, a meeting was held in Baku between Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and US State Department representative Brendan Hanrahan. The topic of conversation was investments, supply sustainability, participation of American companies in new projects, and the development of green energy corridors.

In this context, Brendan Hanrahan's negotiations with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also hold a special place, where the conversation focused on the development of bilateral relations, preparation of the Strategic Partnership Charter, the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and issues of international security.

Therefore, the USA considers Azerbaijan as a reliable partner and a strategic link in the energy security of the region. It turns out that the Trump administration is gradually building a systematic strategy in the region.

Return to the region

It all began with the peace agreements signed on August 8 at the White House, which created a favorable basis for strengthening the American presence in the region. Today, the USA is actively working on implementing the agreements reached, including the possibilities of formalizing a strategic partnership with Baku.

There is a series of high-level contacts confirming the above. For example, a certified US trade mission on the Middle Corridor visited Baku, which discussed the implementation of agreements on the Zangezur route, which is part of the "Middle Corridor" project.

At the same time, the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev held a series of meetings in Washington with representatives of the Senate, including Republican Steve Daines - one of Donald Trump's closest supporters and the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Brian Mast. It should be especially noted here that Daines advocates for the promotion of the Trans-Caspian project and the transportation of Turkmen gas to Europe through Azerbaijan. His position fully corresponds to the interests of the new American administration.

Hikmet Hajiyev in Washington also met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Just the list of these high-level meetings indicates that the USA is seriously interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan and, as a result, in establishing sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.

A unique window of opportunity

Against the background of diplomatic activity, the work of the inter-parliamentary cooperation group with the USA in the Azerbaijani Milli Mejlis has also resumed.

At the same time, contacts continued on the NATO platform. Thus, on September 9