Azerbaijan and the United States signed a historic strategic partnership agreement in Baku, opening a new page in economic and security cooperation amid Washington’s efforts to strengthen its position in the South Caucasus region.
The agreement was inked on Tuesday between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Vice President JD Vance who visited Baku after this trip to Armenia, Azerbaijan’s rival.
Aliyev described the partnership agreement as “an absolutely new phase” between Baku and Washington, while JD Vance said it is time “to 'create prosperity where once there was only fighting and conflict”. The agreement focuses on cooperation in the spheres of economy, energy and security. “Azerbaijan today provides energy security with its natural gas resources to 16 countries, 11 of them are NATO members, allies of the United States,” Aliyev said. The Azerbaijani president also said Vance’s visit was taking place during an “absolutely fantastic” six-month period in bilaterial relations, reminding that he had met Donald Trump twice during this period.
In turn, Vance announced US plans to send new patrols to help Azerbaijan protect its territorial waters. Furthermore, he stressed enhancement of cooperation on critical minerals as a main are through the Middle East transit systems. Vance said Trump’s administration was correcting “a very dumb foreign policy” towards Baku pursued by previous administration.
The strategic partnership charter was first presented during the meeting between Aliyev and US President Donald Trump in Washington in early August. It should be noted that Armenian and Azerbaijanis leaders signed a peace declaration in the White House on August 8 to end the nearly four decades of war. The August visit also saw the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders sign an agreement on development of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, TRIPP – a transit road that will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via southern Armenia and operated by a US consortium for the period of 99 years under Yerevan’s jurisdiction. The strategic road that strengthens Washington’s sphere of influence was discussed during Vance-Aliyev meeting. Vance highlighted Trump's and Aliyev's role in the signing of the peace deal between Baku and Yerevan.
Vance’s visit to South Caucasus is aimed at reinforcing Washington’s engagement with Armenia and Azerbaijan. During the visit to Yerevan earlier, the Vice President signed an agreement with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the development of Armenia’s nuclear energy potential.
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