Washington — On August 7–8, 2025, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, paid an official visit to the United States of America, resulting in landmark agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and advancing regional peace initiatives.
During the visit, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a Strategic Working Group to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership within six months. This framework will prioritize cooperation in regional connectivity (energy, trade, transit), economic investment (artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure), and security (defense, counter-terrorism).
A significant development was the U.S. President’s signing of an Executive Order extending the waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act—a step of major symbolic importance in Azerbaijan–U.S. relations.
The visit also marked progress in the Azerbaijan–Armenia normalization process. In a trilateral summit with the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia, a Joint Declaration was signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia, witnessed by the U.S. President. Foreign Ministers initialed the Draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations and jointly appealed to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures.
Key provisions of the Joint Declaration include:
Commitment to open transportation and communication links, ensuring unimpeded connectivity between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Launch of the U.S.-led “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” via Armenian territory to enhance regional integration.
Acknowledgment of necessary constitutional amendments in Armenia to eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan before the final peace agreement is signed and ratified.
Additionally, SOCAR and ExxonMobil signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to expand collaboration in conventional and unconventional oil and gas opportunities.
The outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev’s visit underscore a historic deepening of Azerbaijan–U.S. strategic ties and mark a decisive step toward lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
