Since the first years of regaining its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan has faced unjust political pressures in the international arena. The most striking and long-lasting example of these pressures is the 907th amendment added to the “Freedom Support Act” adopted by the US Congress in 1992. Today, in a period when the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus has completely changed, Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and become the main economic center of the region, the fact that this amendment still remains in legal force is both a historical injustice and an act contrary to the logic of international relations.
The 907th amendment was adopted in October 1992, at a time when Azerbaijan's territories were occupied by Armenia and our country was in a military-political crisis. Pro-Armenian senators who held strong positions in the US Congress at that time — John Kerry, Wayne Owens, and Joseph Biden, who would later become US President — played an active role in the adoption of the amendment. The diplomatic weakness and unprofessionalism of the Azerbaijani government of that period did not allow for preventing this unjust document. Formally, the document prohibited direct state aid under the pretext that Azerbaijan was "blockading" Armenia. However, the real picture was completely the opposite: Azerbaijan itself was under blockade as a result of Armenia's occupation policy.
Azerbaijan's strategic importance began to become vital for the US after the events of September 11, 2001. Azerbaijan's provision of airspace, logistical support, and participation in the Afghanistan mission in the fight against terrorism forced the US to temporarily suspend the application of this amendment. However, this suspension decision, signed annually by US presidents until 2024, was halted during the Biden-Blinken administration.
President Ilham Aliyev characterized this step in a very sharp and fair tone in an interview given to local television channels on January 5:
"After America's mission in Afghanistan ended, the Biden administration stopped the removal of this amendment. This means Azerbaijan was no longer needed by them... This once again shows how ungrateful and thankless the Biden-Blinken administration is."
The fact that the 907th amendment remains on the agenda today is completely absurd, because the concept of "blockade" on which the law was based no longer exists. On the contrary, Azerbaijan has today begun to play a central role in opening Armenia's economic lifeline. The head of our state brought these historical facts to the attention of the world community in his latest interview. Although direct cargo does not pass from Azerbaijani territory to Armenia for logistical reasons today, Russian and Kazakh grain is transported via Georgia. Even Azerbaijani oil products enter the Armenian market via this route. Azerbaijan proves its commitment to peace and cooperation in the region with practical steps. In such circumstances, the legal existence of the 907th amendment, which claims "Azerbaijan is blockading Armenia," is merely a piece of paper.
With Donald Trump's return to power in the US, relations between the two countries have shifted to a more pragmatic plane, free from ideological pressures and based on real interests. Official Baku and the people of Azerbaijan rightly believe that this discriminatory document should now be consigned to the archives of history. Azerbaijan's economy is so strong that we have no need for US financial aid. However, the repeal of the 907th amendment is a political and moral issue; it will be an indicator of the US's respect for Azerbaijan's sovereignty and the new realities in the region.
As President Ilham Aliyev emphasized, the US administration now has a great opportunity:
"We expect that the Trump administration will be able to use its capabilities to convince members of Congress, especially members of the Republican Party, that this amendment must be completely abolished."
It is known that the issue of the complete repeal of the 907th amendment is currently a subject of discussion in the relevant committees and political circles of the US Congress. The strong position of Republicans in both chambers (Senate and House of Representatives) indicates that we are approaching the end of this injustice. The new American elite, emerging from the influence of the Armenian lobby, must realize that strategic partnership with Azerbaijan should not become a hostage to outdated and biased laws.
We hope that in the coming months, Congress will definitively repeal this biased document. This step will both restore the US's influence in the region and open a clean, new, and more reliable page in Azerbaijan-US relations. Azerbaijan's patience and principled policy once again prove that sooner or later justice prevails, and today is the time for that victory to be enshrined in the legal sphere.
Modern Analytical Analysis and Research Group
