Arrival of Trump Administration Does Not Immediately Signify a Fresh Start for U.S.-Azerbaijan Ties
Azerbaijan has barred the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) from conducting activities within its borders, citing allegations of interference in internal affairs and support for anti-Azerbaijani activities. The move, announced earlier this month by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, follows a review of USAID's activities in Azerbaijan that concluded its efforts were not aligned with the country's interests.
Bayramov criticized the Biden administration for imposing penalties on Azerbaijan under Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, claiming the penalties were imposed to punish Azerbaijan for its actions during the reconquest of Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani forces gained full control of the territory in late 2023, leading to an estimated 100,000 Armenian residents fleeing their homes.
The Biden administration had followed the provisions of Section 907 despite Azerbaijan receiving a waiver for these provisions since the 9/11 terrorist tragedy. However, a bill introduced in Congress in early 2024, known as the Armenian Protection Act, sought to "repeal Freedom Support Act section 907 waiver authority with respect to assistance to Azerbaijan." Although the bill has not been enacted, the Biden administration has, in effect, adhered to the Section 907 penalties on Baku.
In a news conference on January 16, Bayramov stated that the Biden administration had subjected Azerbaijan to groundless pressure since the reconquest of Nagorno-Karabakh. He claimed the administration wanted to punish Azerbaijan by withholding aid. Moreover, Bayramov expressed concern that USAID's activities were not in line with Azerbaijan's interests but rather served the U.S. agenda. He did not elaborate on specific activities that went against national interests.
Preliminary results from the Prosecutor General's investigation suggested that USAID was involved in "anti-Azerbaijani activity" and attempts to intervene in Azerbaijan's internal affairs. According to some reports, USAID and other organizations orchestrated biased information campaigns against Azerbaijan during major international events, such as the European Games.
In December 2021, President Ilham Aliyev criticized USAID and the Biden administration during a television interview. He noted that the agency was engaging in activities that supported opposition groups and undermined the government. It is unclear whether the U.S. stance towards Azerbaijan will shift under the new Trump administration, even though Trump has shown support for the region and, in the past, temporarily suspended foreign assistance programs pending reviews. There is also a history of tension between the Trump administration and Aliyev over human rights issues.
- The news of Azerbaijan's allegations against USAID includes claims of anti-Azerbaijani activities and interference in internal affairs, which were brought up by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
- The health of Azerbaijan's political relations with the U.S. has been strained, with the Biden administration facing criticism over its policies and legislation towards the region, specifically the ongoing Section 907 penalties.
- In the realm of general news, there are concerns about the alignment of USAID's activities in Azerbaijan with the country's national interests, as expressed by Bayramov, and questions about the involvement of USAID in biased information campaigns against Azerbaijan, as suggested by preliminary investigations.
