The first Azerbaijan-United States Think Tank Forum on the theme "Bridging Visions: Azerbaijan-United States Dialogue for a Strategic Partnership" kicked off in Baku, organized by the Azerbaijan’s Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center).
In his remarks, Chairman of the AIR Center Farid Shafiyev highlighted the significance of the forum.
“The August 8 summit carries several positive implications. It encompasses not only the energy sphere but also regional connectivity, including energy, trade, and transit, economic investment, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, security cooperation, including defense sales and counterterrorism collaboration,” the Chairman of the AIR Center noted.
“From the moment I arrived in Washington, I was struck by numerous interesting things I encountered in the United States. What surprised me most was the extensive network of think tanks and their active work.
I remember the friendships I made during those years and how different countries presented themselves in the U.S. At that time, very few people from Azerbaijan visited the U.S., and diplomacy was a completely new field for me. Many people were unfamiliar with Azerbaijan, and there was insufficient information about the country. However, today, Azerbaijan is attracting great interest from many countries around the world,” Hafiz Pashayev, Rector of ADA University emphasized.
Emphasizing that hosting the first Azerbaijan-US Forum will contribute to expanding cooperation and mutual interaction between Baku and Washington, John Herbst added: “We will closely cooperate with Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries in various ways so that such forums will continue to be held in the future.”
“The results of the meetings held between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and U.S. President Donald Trump are considered highly successful both for Azerbaijan and for the neighbouring states of the region. A turning point in U.S.–Azerbaijan relations was the important document signed by President Ilham Aliyev, President Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This created a significant foundation for the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” John Herbst noted.
Moderated by Orkhan Amashov, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the media organization AnewZ, the forum then featured discussion on "Assessing the Washington Summit: Implications for U.S.-Azerbaijan Relations."
Kamran Bokhari, Senior Director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity Portfolio at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy also addressed the forum, touching upon Azerbaijan’s becoming a decisive country in the region.
Addressing the event, Member of the Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis Fariz Ismailzade noted that we are observing the growing interest of the United States in the Caspian region, adding that the signing of the Washington documents marked a crucial stage in the increasing interest.
“There is already momentum in the bilateral dialogue. Azerbaijan is focusing on investments in other sectors of the economy, including renewable energy, transport and logistics, and technology areas that can generate new income. I do believe the role of the United States can be very important here. I mean the U.S. technology, technology transfer, and investments. Azerbaijan approaches this new chapter of the U.S.–Azerbaijan relations through the prism of economic and technological development, which also includes artificial intelligence. Azerbaijan does not yet have extensive experience in this field, and we can learn from the United States,” Fariz Ismailzade said.
Farhad Mammadov, Director of the South Caucasus Research Center, recalled the activities of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, stating that unilateral and biased approach of this administration at that time led to tensions in bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S.
The session continued with discussions.
