The United States and Azerbaijan signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Baku on Tuesday, expanding cooperation on defence, energy security, artificial intelligence and economic ties.
MP Tural Ganjali from Khankendi, Azerbaijan, told AnewZ U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Baku marked a historic shift in U.S. policy toward the South Caucasus, introducing the first strategic charter with Azerbaijan and moving beyond post-conflict diplomacy to a focus on prosperity, technology and security.
He added that the charter elevates bilateral ties to “an entirely new phase” shifting cooperation beyond the energy-only model toward military, political and AI-driven areas. The visit, he said, shows the United States is now directing its strategic focus “towards the South Caucasus” with Azerbaijan as a “key actor.”
Also speaking to AnewZ, political analyst Orkhan Nabiyev was critical of the previous U.S. administration. He said President Biden “looked to this region, the South Caucasus, as a backyard of the Russian Federation,” contrasting this with the current approach. “Right now," he said, "the United States [emphasises] that this is an independent region and the Trump administration have their own interests in the region.”
Nabiyev argued that this shift signals a more proactive U.S. engagement, recognising the South Caucasus as a strategically important area where American interests extend beyond observing Russian influence.
Ganjali highlighted that Azerbaijani peace initiatives align with U.S. commercial and security interests, calling the partnership a “win-win situation” for all sides, including Armenia and noted that maritime defence, critical infrastructure and U.S.-supported AI data centres now shape the agenda, with Azerbaijan’s surplus electricity set to power those facilities.
Vance called the partnership a step toward “greater peace and prosperity,” noting U.S. support for protecting Azerbaijan’s territorial waters and plans to ship new boats to the country.
“Our hope is that this will build the economic and critical mineral cooperation needed to help the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia hold,” he added.
The charter was first introduced during President Ilham Aliyev’s talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington last August, when Azerbaijan and Armenia reached a U.S.-brokered peace deal.
President Aliyev said the document opens “an entirely new phase” in bilateral relations, outlining deeper defence cooperation and expanded joint work on counter-terrorism and energy security.
“Connectivity through TRIPP will contribute to peace and cooperation in the region. We are also opening a new chapter in defence sales, which is very promising. And AI data centres are now part of our bilateral agenda, with early results already emerging from our work with leading American companies,” President Aliyev explained.
Ganjali said strengthened trade ties and the launch of the TRIPP route could drive early regional gains, adding that the visit creates momentum to repeal legacy U.S. restrictions such as Section 907. “It is a good opportunity to repeal this section once and for all,” he said.
The five-point charter
According to him, the planned U.S. delivery of high-tech naval vessels will “contribute tremendously” to security in the Caspian Sea. He noted that U.S. demining assistance and interest from major American companies signal a deeper shift in Washington’s investment approach toward Azerbaijan.
He said the five-point charter creates a framework that future U.S. administrations cannot easily reverse. “They will not be able to change this strategic partnership,” he added, describing it as a permanent upgrade that will cement bilateral relations.
Ganjali stressed the significance of TRIPP’s inclusion, saying it strengthens connectivity and long-term cooperation, with its stakeholder structure ensuring continuity for decades. “This route will continue to function and bring countries together,” he said.
He concluded that expanding U.S. investment in transport, technology and energy will reinforce stability in the South Caucasus, saying that growing regional connectivity will “positively affect the overall situation.” He added that Washington now seeks strong, sovereign partners. “The United States needs strong allies like Azerbaijan to achieve its strategic foreign policy.”
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claime...
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city...
Concerns are growing over a renewed cholera outbreak in Yemen, after years of conflict has left the country's healthcare system struggling to cope....
Experience the living heritage of one of the world’s great cultural capitals in this all-new episode of AnewZ Original Series Destination: Shusha, Azerbaijan.
AnewZ Original Series presents 'Destination: Shahdag', premiering in the skiers’ paradise and winter wonderland Shahdag Mountain Resort, part of the magnificent Greater Caucasus range.
Israel's decision to recognise the so-called Armenian genocide has triggered diplomatic tensions with Azerbaijan, one of its closest strategic partners.
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to secure alternative supplies and contain rising prices.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
China has maintained its highest-level rainstorm warning after Typhoon Bavi made landfall on the country's eastern coast, urging large-scale evacuations and emergency preparations across several provinces amid fears of severe flooding and landslides
Qatar is mourning the death of its former ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who has passed away at the age of 74.
This is the last of four articles in AnewZ's series examining how conservationists are working to protect and repair damage done to the Aral Sea which lies between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
Turkish prosecutors have ordered the detention of 36 people, including the mayor of an Ankara district controlled by the main opposition, over alleged bribery and tender-rigging.
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increasing public health threat across the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment