US praises Azerbaijan’s vital role in Trans-Caspian Corridor development

A high-ranking official from the U.S. administration has emphasised Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in the operation of the Trans-Caspian Corridor.

The official explained that one of the U.S. government’s key priorities is to deepen economic and trade relations with Central Asian nations, promote their integration into global markets, and enhance regional security, according to domestic media reports.

“Relations with Azerbaijan are extremely important to the United States,” the official stated. “Through the diplomatic framework of ‘C5+1’ (which includes Central Asia and the USA), we aim to support the functionality of the Trans-Caspian Corridor. Central Asian countries are geographically distant from major global markets, making them reliant on Russia. They require alternative routes to export their goods globally. This challenge is compounded by the fact that these countries are situated near difficult regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The official noted that countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and others have demonstrated a strong interest in expanding the Trans-Caspian Corridor, with Azerbaijan playing a key role in these efforts. A new strategic plan has been formulated for the upcoming U.S. administration, outlining ways to collaborate successfully with Central Asian and Caucasus nations. The Caspian Policy Centre recently convened several meetings on this topic, which Azerbaijan attended alongside other Central Asian countries. Just days ago, a gathering organised by the Caspian Policy Centre brought together senior officials from the U.S., Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and all Central Asian states to discuss these developments.

The official also highlighted that the U.S. government holds regular meetings to monitor the progress of the Trans-Caspian Corridor project.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been very active on this front,” the official remarked. “His goals include enhancing U.S. security and boosting American prosperity. Helping our Central Asian partners gain access to global markets, enabling trade with the U.S. and beyond, is a vital part of this strategy. Many of the most effective initiatives and agreements occur through the Trans-Caspian Corridor, which also serves as a vital air transportation route.”

The official pointed out that during recent tensions between Israel and Iran, when airspace was closed, all flights were rerouted through the countries along the Trans-Caspian Corridor. This underscores the corridor’s importance to the global economy, and the U.S. remains committed to advancing work on it.

By Tamilla Hasanova