On February 10, US Vice President James David Vance visited Azerbaijan. A meeting was held between the President of Azerbaijan and Vance. Within the framework of the meeting, a Charter on Strategic Partnership was signed between the two countries. The Charter stipulates the further deepening of political relations between the parties. In addition, the Charter includes issues of economic-regional ties, including energy, trade and transit, economic investments, including cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure.
It is also an interesting question what Vance's visit promises from a political perspective.
In a statement to Modern.az, Fazil Mustafa, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee and head of the Great Establishment Party, stated that the visit of the Vice President of a country like the USA is a great image for Azerbaijan:
"This is also an important event in terms of formalizing Azerbaijan-US cooperation. Not every country is fortunate enough to establish high-level relations. It is especially important for small states like ours to gain the support of world powers to achieve their goals in this way."
F. Mustafa noted that this visit is also important for the security of the region:
"Because the security problem in the region is indeed at risk. Because today, the calls for war and actions of some states in the region are turning into a threat for every state. Therefore, such visits and contacts will absolutely yield very important results in terms of normalizing relations."
Elshad Musayev, a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Great Azerbaijan Party, emphasized that the importance of James David Vance's visit for Azerbaijan is greater compared to Armenia:
“The visit of the US Vice President to the region – to Azerbaijan and Armenia – holds special significance. The importance of the visit for Azerbaijan is greater compared to Armenia. Because the US government, senators, various institutions, and international organizations have already been on Armenia's side. Here, both the services of the Armenian lobby were present, and Armenia acts as a representative of the Christian world in this region. There has been discrimination against Azerbaijan. Despite Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan in 1992, the 907th amendment was adopted. Finally, in the 44-day Patriotic War, we triumphed over Armenia and the insidious forces behind it. At the same time, we demonstrated that Azerbaijan is a leader and a state of greater interest in this region. By ending the war, Azerbaijan itself fulfilled the resolutions of the UN Security Council. Azerbaijan proved that for cooperation in the region, relations must first be established with it. Therefore, the importance of US Vice President Vance's visit is exceedingly great.”
E. Musayev noted that the region has been under Russia's influence until now:
"Russia was getting away with any trickery. We achieved the initialing of the peace agreement text between Azerbaijan and Armenia. At the same time, the US became the country guaranteeing the opening of the Zangezur corridor. Naturally, the US and Russia have interests and are competing. We have also seen Russia's occupation policy. Russia has always played a role in the disasters that befell Azerbaijan. In the current situation, the US, of course, acts in its own interests. Its importance for Azerbaijan lies in the fact that it is implementing strategic partnership with the US in many areas. This will serve to further increase Azerbaijan's economic and political power and potential. The US is a superpower of the world, intervening in all processes in one way or another. Cooperating with such a superpower is in Azerbaijan's interests in all respects. I highly appreciate this policy pursued by Mr. President."
Iqbal Agazade, Chairman of the Umid Party, stated that the US is acting in a new role in the region:
"It is difficult to predict how positive and important this will be for the future. It can be said that places where Russia is not present are usually considered safe geographies. However, in places where Russia is present, tension, war, ethnic, and national separatist tendencies always manifest themselves. If the South Caucasus emerges from Russia's control, this will mean Caucasian republics living in peace without war, in good relations with each other within the framework of a neighborhood policy. The agreements signed by the US with Azerbaijan, including Armenia, are implemented on a special line. Furthermore, considering that the Middle Corridor project is a priority for the world, especially for the US, we can expect more positive things from these new relations."
The party chairman added that the US paying attention to the processes in the South Caucasus will also compel world states to approach this region cautiously:
"One should also view this somewhat positively."
