U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has met President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku as part of a regional visit aimed at strengthening cooperation on energy, security and regional stability.
An official welcoming ceremony was held, during which Ilham Aliyev received J.D. Vance and a guard of honour was assembled with the national flags of both countries displayed. The two leaders were introduced to members of their respective delegations, and the national anthems of the United States and Azerbaijan were played before talks first began in a limited format.
Following the limited meeting, discussions continued in an expanded format. After the talks, a signing ceremony was held in Baku for the “Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the United States of America,” which was signed by President Ilham Aliyev and U.S. Vice President James David Vance. The two leaders then held a joint press briefing.
During the briefing, Ilham Aliyev said relations between the United States and Azerbaijan are entering “an absolutely new phase.”
The president said the newly signed charter outlines several directions of cooperation, including security, counter-terror operations and energy.
“Azerbaijan today provides energy security with its natural gas resources to 16 countries, 11 of them are NATO members, allies of the United States,” he said.
Aliyev also highlighted regional connectivity initiatives, noting that the TRIPP project “will be another contribution to peace, development and cooperation in the region.”
He said the two sides are “opening the chapter of cooperation in defence sales,” describing it as promising, and added that artificial intelligence data centres are now part of the bilateral agenda, with preliminary results already achieved through engagement with leading U.S. companies.
“In other words, today’s visit of Vice President Vance can be called historical from the point of view of the substance of negotiations and the strategic charter which has been signed,” Aliyev said.
Vance highlights security, economic and regional cooperation
Vance opened his remarks by conveying greetings from President Donald Trump and described U.S.–Azerbaijan ties as “an underappreciated but very, very important partnership and friendship for the United States of America.”
He thanked Azerbaijan for its support to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, noting Azerbaijani troops served alongside American forces, and said the visit aimed to “turn the page and open up the next chapter” in bilateral relations.
The vice president announced plans to strengthen maritime security cooperation, including the shipment of new patrol boats to help Azerbaijan protect its territorial waters. He also pointed to expanded cooperation on critical minerals, describing it as a key area for future economic partnership.
Vance said regional connectivity initiatives, including the TRIPP corridor linking mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, could reinforce stability by encouraging trade and economic integration.
“If we work together,” he said, the region can “create prosperity where once there was only fighting and conflict.”
He credited both Aliyev and Armenia’s leadership for advancing the peace process between the two countries, saying continued cooperation could help ensure long-term stability in the South Caucasus.
Vance also said the newly signed strategic partnership charter would formalise ties and help produce “great results for both of our peoples,” adding that closer economic cooperation could expand access to markets and strengthen regional development.
He also made a lighter remark about Azerbaijan’s diplomatic positioning, saying he had told his staff before landing that, other than President Donald Trump, President Ilham Aliyev was “the only leader in the world who has really good relations with both the Turks and the Israelis.” He added that this must mean either “the food must be really good” or that Aliyev is “very charming,” saying he could already confirm the latter while looking forward to experiencing Azerbaijani hospitality.
The visit is one of the rare trips by a sitting U.S. Vice President to Azerbaijan, signalling renewed engagement between Washington and Baku at a time when geopolitical influence in the region remains contested.
Officials say Azerbaijan’s importance as an energy supplier and transit hub linking major markets is likely to feature prominently in ongoing discussions, alongside broader economic and diplomatic cooperation.
Before travelling to Baku, Vance visited Armenia, marking the first trip by a sitting U.S. Vice President to the country. During the visit, he met Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and signed an agreement to advance negotiations on a civil nuclear energy partnership between Washington and Yerevan.
The U.S. administration also signalled readiness to expand economic cooperation with Armenia, including potential exports of advanced technology and investment in infrastructure projects.
The visit came amid ongoing efforts to support a U.S.-backed peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan following decades of conflict over the Karabakh region, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan. Previous agreements between the two countries included commitments to restore transport links, including a route connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory.
During his meetings in Yerevan, Vance emphasised that long-term stability in the region depends on forward-looking leadership and continued dialogue, while Armenian officials described the trip as symbolically important for strengthening bilateral ties with Washington.
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