The Davos forum marked a new stage in relations between Azerbaijan and the United States. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took part in the ceremonial signing of the Charter of the “Peace Council,” established on the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump. As announced earlier, Azerbaijan became one of the member states of the Peace Council, and on January 22 the head of the Azerbaijani Republic signed the Charter.
Following the ceremony, a meeting was held between the presidents of the United States and Azerbaijan — Donald Trump and Ilham Aliyev. As Minval Politika previously reported, the talks expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations across various fields following Donald Trump’s return to power, and highlighted President Trump’s historic role in achieving the August 8 agreements in Washington aimed at advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the steps being taken to normalize relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Reference was made to Azerbaijan’s export of petroleum products to Armenia, as well as the delivery of imported grain to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory.
Ilham Aliyev further noted that the Zangezur Corridor, including the TRIPP project, plays an important role in terms of regional connectivity. The significance of the Peace Council, established under the chairmanship of the U.S. president, was also discussed, as well as the importance of this institution for strengthening peace in the Middle East. Naturally, the two heads of state exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral relations, emphasizing the role of mutual visits and contacts at various levels in deepening cooperation.
But what lies behind the scenes?
It is evident, as already noted, that Azerbaijan’s invitation to the Peace Council is a clear indication of how much the country’s standing in the Middle East has grown. Azerbaijan maintains well-established cooperation with both Israel and Arab countries. At the same time, the country pursues a balanced and restrained policy, avoiding involvement in acute conflicts and rigid coalitions. Most importantly, this reflects a new level in relations between Baku and Washington, especially noticeable when contrasted with the period of what many considered the most pro-Armenian U.S. administration under Biden and Blinken.
Although this was not explicitly stated in the official press release on the Trump–Aliyev meeting, a visit by a U.S. business delegation to Azerbaijan has already been announced. Azerbaijan already has experience cooperating with major American companies in the energy sector. This time, however, the focus is shifting toward the non-oil sector. Nevertheless, the experience accumulated in energy cooperation has not disappeared and is now being leveraged beyond the oil and gas industry itself.
Another factor will not escape the attention of U.S. officials: Azerbaijan conducts a genuinely independent foreign policy. The country does not participate in Russian integration projects. From a business perspective, this means significantly greater flexibility in matters of taxation, customs duties, market access, and related regulations.
There is also the security dimension. Despite the constraints of the 907 amendment and other obstacles, Azerbaijan and the United States already have experience cooperating in this area. This primarily concerns strengthening maritime borders and monitoring compliance with non-proliferation regimes for missile technologies and fissile materials — in simpler terms, preventing attempts to smuggle radioactive substances and materials needed for missile production through Azerbaijani borders. There have also been arms supplies, albeit limited to light weapons. Many still remember the attention drawn by U.S.-made Bell helicopters during one of the military parades in Baku. While neither Azerbaijan nor the United States is eager to disclose such details, it is clear that military cooperation also remains on the agenda. This is further reinforced by Azerbaijan’s expanding ties with NATO and the transition of its armed forces toward Turkish — that is, NATO — standards.
Finally, Azerbaijan is a consolidated state with a strong and authoritative leader at its helm. The country consistently fulfills its commitments and does not engage in double standards with its partners. Azerbaijan does not change its official positions multiple times a day, nor does it oscillate between political camps. This greatly enhances Azerbaijan’s value as a reliable partner, even if such realities were not explicitly articulated during the meeting in Davos.
Nurani
