US reaffirms Azerbaijan as geostrategic partner, Pentagon official says

A senior U.S. defence official has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deepening its partnership with Azerbaijan, describing the country as a key geostrategic partner and expressing confidence that bilateral ties will continue to strengthen.

Speaking at a reception marking Azerbaijan's Independence Day and Armed Forces Day, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Andrew Loomis highlighted Azerbaijan's strategic importance and its relationships with major regional partners.

"Azerbaijan is located in a very complex part of the world. It is noteworthy that the country maintains strong relations with both Türkiye and Israel. For all these reasons, we consider Azerbaijan a geostrategic partner," Loomis said.

According to Loomis, the strategic importance of the relationship was reflected in the Strategic Partnership Charter signed between the United States and Azerbaijan. He emphasized that defence cooperation between the two countries has a long history and remains a significant pillar of bilateral relations.

Highlighting Azerbaijan's contributions to international security efforts, Loomis stated: "For more than two decades, Azerbaijan has fought alongside the United States. Azerbaijan was one of the last countries to leave Afghanistan. We welcome Azerbaijan’s participation in professional military education courses as well as regional military exercises, and the relationships built between our service members contribute to further strengthening these ties. We are laying a solid foundation for stability, and we look forward to continuing this cooperation and friendship. I am absolutely convinced that our exceptional partnership will only continue to grow stronger in the years ahead."

By Tamilla Hasanova