South Caucasus leaders condemn assassination attempt on Trump President Aliyev promptly denounces political violence

Leaders from around the world, both allies and rivals, quickly condemned the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. This rapid response underscores the broader geopolitical implications and the intricate web of international relations at play.

Reactions from South Caucasus leaders

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his shock and condemnation via social media, stating “we strongly condemn this act of political violence. We wish President Trump a swift recovery.”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reacted with notable ambiguity. On Facebook, he blamed the "Global War Party" and "liberal fascism" for the attack, while his English-language post on X focused solely on condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with Trump. This dual messaging highlights the complex political landscape in Georgia and its balancing act between domestic and international audiences.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing that such acts undermine democratic principles. His stance reflected Armenia's commitment to democratic values and stability at least in words.

South Caucasus leaders' motivations

In the South Caucasus, reactions also reflect deeper geopolitical strategies.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's condemnation aligns with his strategy to maintain strong ties with the US, crucial for Azerbaijan's geopolitical positioning.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Kobakhidze's dual messaging indicates a delicate balancing act. His domestic audience may resonate with anti-liberal sentiments, while his international audience demands a straightforward condemnation of violence.

Pashinyan's clear stance underscores the country's commitment to democratic values, at least in words, which is essential for its international image and support.

Expert analysis: Motives behind global condemnation

The swift and unanimous denouncement by world leaders reveals underlying motives beyond mere condemnation of violence.

Some leaders, particularly those with strained relations with the current US administration, might see an opportunity to align with Trump, whose policies could potentially benefit their interests.

Trump's potential return to power is seen by some as a chance to reset bilateral relations or advance specific geopolitical agendas. Leaders like Erdogan and el-Sissi, who had more favorable interactions with Trump, might prefer his administration over Biden's.

Regardless of political affiliations, the global community recognizes that political violence threatens international stability and the rule of law. Condemning the assassination attempt is a stance in favor of maintaining order and democratic processes.

In exclusive comments to the Caliber.Az news website, prominent US-based expert Peter Tase agreed with the assessments of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and criticized the Biden administration for underfunding law enforcement agencies nationwide.

"Former US President Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. The main causes of this assassination attempt against a former US President and presumptive presidential candidate from the Republican Party in the upcoming presidential elections of November 5, 2024, are:

"The law enforcement agencies, police departments nationwide, and institutions of the intelligence community operating domestically and internationally have faced a major financial blow, have been constantly defunded down to the bone, and demotivated since Joe Biden served as Vice President of the United States (2009-2017). This trend and ill-oriented policies continued during Biden's term as President of the United States.

"The very few highly dedicated members of President Trump's security detail have performed excellently, but the perimeter of the political rally in Pennsylvania was not fully scanned nor controlled by local police.

"Joe Biden's administration has repeatedly refused to assign additional Secret Service agents to protect presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.

"Mr. Trump is expected to win the November 5, 2024, elections through a major landslide victory and will reverse the actions that his predecessor has taken towards reducing funding for police officers and law enforcement agencies.

"Even in remote Wisconsin cities, such as Glendale, Racine, and Shorewood, citizens face daily challenges such as carjacking, hit-and-run accidents, armed robberies, and skyrocketing homicides in downtown Milwaukee.

"In 2022, when I openly discussed rising crime levels and drug use in suburban Milwaukee, and the lack of appropriate funding for the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, I was labeled as a racist by influential local journalists like Daniel Bice from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and others.

"Only two and a half years later, we find ourselves in Joe Biden's America, succumbing to gang violence and organized crime, including the pouring of drugs and methamphetamine onto US soil at record levels. Homelessness has become a significant problem in addition to the unfettered immigration and border crisis. These public policy failures of the Biden-Harris administration create fertile ground for lone wolves to commit terrifying crimes, such as the assassination attempt against President Trump.

"During the attempted assassination of former President Trump, the deceased victim was identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, PA. The second victim, 57-year-old David Dutch of New Kensington, PA, is currently in stable condition. The third victim, 74-year-old James Copenhaver of Moon Township, PA, is also listed in stable condition.

"There is no doubt that the current President of the United States, Joe Biden, must be held accountable for ignoring written requests for additional reinforcements in the former President's security perimeter and security detail, and for not allocating sufficient funds to law enforcement authorities nationwide," he said in his comments.

Conclusion

The global outpouring of condemnation following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump highlights the complex interplay of international relations, domestic politics, and geopolitical strategies. While the immediate reaction is a unified stance against political violence, underlying motives reveal a nuanced landscape where global leaders navigate their interests and alliances in anticipation of potential shifts in US leadership.