AnewZ Morning Brief - 12 December, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 12th of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
On 7 August, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan met in Washington with Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of the U.S. President. The two leaders witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between SOCAR and ExxonMobil.
Azerbaijan’s Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov and ExxonMobil Vice President John Ardill signed the agreement, marking a new phase in U.S.–Azerbaijan energy cooperation.
Talks highlight deepening economic ties
After the signing, President Aliyev and Steve Witkoff held bilateral talks focused on expanding economic relations between Azerbaijan and the United States. Both sides emphasised the significance of the new partnership for regional energy security.
Trump to suspend Section 907, ending three decades of restrictions
In a related move, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on 8 August, suspending Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. The measure, to be announced during Aliyev’s Washington visit, will end a 33-year-old ban on US government assistance to Azerbaijan—a restriction imposed in 1992 during the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territory. While previous presidents temporarily waived the amendment, the Biden–Blinken administration reinstated it as a pressure tool. Trump’s decision is seen as a decisive step towards restoring fair bilateral ties.
A powerful magnitude 6.7 earthquake has struck northern Japan, triggering tsunami warnings and forcing thousands of residents to flee to higher ground.
In a dramatic Champions League clash at Baku’s Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, Qarabağ grabbed an early lead, but Ajax staged a thrilling comeback to win 4-2.
Iran is preparing to host a multilateral regional meeting next week in a bid to mediate between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
Iran's President Massoud Pezeshkian has begun a two day visit to Kazakhstan, with officials from both sides describing the trip as an opportunity to advance cooperation in trade, transport, industry, mining and cultural exchanges.
The global centre of political gravity is increasingly moving from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a development with significant implications for the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Turkmenistan on 11–12 December to attend the International Peace and Security Forum in Ashgabat.
The South Caucasus is witnessing a notable recalibration of geopolitical alignments, with Azerbaijan and Armenia both pursuing strategic partnerships with global powers, including the United States and China.
Energy ministers from the Turkic States have agreed to expand cooperation on key oil, gas, and green energy projects at an event hosted by Türkiye this week. It's a significant move towards regional energy collaboration.
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanar touched on the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Slovakia.
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