President Aliyev: Trump Route to strengthen peace in the region

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that the implementation of the so-called Trump Route will significantly strengthen peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

“Trump route will not only connect two part of parts of Azerbaijan, but also will be a very reliable, safe and large scale transportation corridor. It will connect Asia with Europe through the territory of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and other neighbors,” President Ilham Aliyev said during a press statement with U.S. Vice President James David Vance on February 10, in Baku, Caliber.Az reports via state media.

The head of state noted that the project would contribute to consolidating progress achieved on the peace track.

President Aliyev also highlighted concrete steps taken by Azerbaijan to promote regional cooperation and confidence-building.

“Not only we lifted all the restrictions on the transit of cargo through Azerbaijan to Armenia, but we ourselves started to supply oil products to Armenia, thus beginning actually trade and beginning cooperation,” Aliyev said.

Referring to the role of Washington, President Aliyev emphasised the importance of U.S. engagement in the region.

"One of the important results and Trump-Vance Administration's efforts in our region is implementation of Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, TRIPP,” he noted.

The President also recalled a landmark meeting in Washington that laid the foundation for a new level of bilateral relations.

“Six months ago, historical meeting in Washington with President Trump and signing a document to establish the working group to elaborate the charter on strategic partnership opened the new opportunities for bilateral cooperation,” Aliyev said.

Highlighting the significance of the partnership with Washington, the head of state said: “For us, it's a great honor to be a strategic partner to the most powerful country of the world, United States of America.”

President Aliyev expressed gratitude to the U.S. leadership for its constructive approach toward Azerbaijan.

“We are very grateful to Trump-Vance administration for a very positive attitude to Azerbaijan. Today's ceremonial signing of charter on strategic partnership is a reflection of the very hard work,” he said during a joint press conference.

According to President Aliyev, bilateral relations have now reached a qualitatively new stage.

“Today, relations between the United States and Azerbaijan are entering absolutely new phase,” he said.

Outlining the key areas of cooperation under the newly signed Charter on Strategic Partnership, the President stressed security and energy as priority directions.

“In the Charter which we signed with our dear guest there are different directions of our cooperation. We will continue to work closely on the issues related to security, anti-terror operations. We will continue to work on the issues related to energy security. Azerbaijan today provides energy security with its natural gas resources to 16 countries; 11 of them are NATO members, the allies of United States,” the head of state emphasized.