Azerbaijan–U.S. relations have gone through various stages over the years, at times marked by waves of mutual cooperation and periods of tension. However, with Donald Trump’s re-election as U.S. President in 2025, real prospects have emerged for these relations to enter a new phase. The mutual understanding and cooperation between President Ilham Aliyev and President Donald Trump create a strong foundation for a strategic partnership between the two countries. Shared interests in energy security, regional stability, economic cooperation, and the fight against terrorism reaffirm the effectiveness and forward-looking nature of the dialogue conducted at the leadership level.
Even during his first term as president, Donald Trump paid special attention to strengthening friendship and cooperation with Azerbaijan. The mutual trust established during that period now serves as a solid basis for transitioning bilateral relations to a new stage. Joint efforts to advance these ties, particularly in the fields of energy and security, demonstrate that the partnership is aimed at delivering practical results and is based on the principle of mutual benefit. In this context, both the leaders’ determination and the traditions of friendship between the two peoples raise expectations that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations will further deepen in this new stage.
AZERTAC takes a look at telephone conversations, exchanges of letters between the presidents of Azerbaijan and the United States, and the overall dynamics of bilateral relations.
On November 6, 2024, in his congratulatory letter to Donald Trump on his election as president, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that the Republic of Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the comprehensive development of its relations with the United States of America. He expressed confidence that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations would enter a new stage of development during Donald Trump’s presidency.
President Ilham Aliyev also stated: “Benefiting a vast potential of our joint activities with the United States, we are determined to further expand and deepen our bilateral partnership in all areas, including political, economic-commercial, security, energy, green and digital transition and others. We do believe that during your new presidency, the relations between Azerbaijan and the United States will further strengthen as the new cooperation areas will be defined.”
These statements are an indication of President Ilham Aliyev’s strategic approach to relations with the United States and his political will to deepen ties between the two countries. Azerbaijan’s intention to expand cooperation in various fields, particularly in such key areas as energy, security, and digital transformation, carries significant importance for both regional and global stability. This message from the President is also a reflection of confidence in the continuation of a mutually beneficial partnership with the new U.S. administration based on shared interests.
The President of Azerbaijan also called Donald Trump on November 25, 2024, to congratulate him on his re-election as President of the United States. During the phone conversation, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that President Donald Trump’s activities would play an even more important role in ensuring global security. The head of state noted that during his first term, Donald Trump paid special attention to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, and expressed hope that joint efforts would be made to advance bilateral relations.
Donald Trump, in turn, expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the sincere congratulations and stressed the importance of working together to further develop cooperation between the two countries.
On January 21, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter to Donald Trump on the occasion of his assumption of office as the 47th President of the United States, expressing confidence that his future activities would play an important role in promoting peace and strengthening international security.
Touching upon the prospects for cooperation with the United States, the head of state noted: “We look forward to actively and resolutely advancing our fruitful engagement with the United States across both traditional and emerging spheres, and to working closely with you in that direction. I believe that during your new presidency the ties of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States will solidify further and gain new substance.”
The statements in President Ilham Aliyev’s congratulatory letter reflect a strategic vision for the future development of Azerbaijan–U.S. relations. The head of state’s remarks on the determination to resolutely continue the partnership based on mutual trust and confidence are an indication of the political will to deepen cooperation between the two countries. This also demonstrates Azerbaijan’s intention to expand relations with the United States not only in existing areas but also in new fields of cooperation.
Another manifestation of the relations based on mutual trust between the two countries was President Ilham Aliyev’s letter of condolence to President Donald Trump on January 30, 2025, regarding the tragedy that occurred near Washington. In connection with the incident — a collision between a passenger plane and an army helicopter that resulted in numerous casualties — the President of Azerbaijan extended, on his own behalf and on behalf of the Azerbaijani people, his deepest condolences to the U.S. President, the families of the victims, and the American people. This once again shows that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations are based not only on political and economic grounds, but also on sincerity and solidarity from humanitarian and human perspectives.
In this context, the views expressed by President Ilham Aliyev in his interview to China’s CGTN television channel in Davos on January 20 of this year are also noteworthy. Responding to a question about concerns related to the change of administration in the United States, the head of state said: “From what I can observe, the main uncertainty is among the European leaders. With respect to Azerbaijan, we don't have any uncertainty. We remember the time when President Trump was the head of the United States, and our relationship developed very successfully, unlike the last four years, when it completely deteriorated due to the unfair and unjust approach of the Biden administration toward Azerbaijan. So, our previous experience working with President Trump was very positive. We expect that these four years, which we consider lost years in U.S.-Azerbaijan relationship, will already be history, and we will restart.”
The head of state emphasized that Western leaders had been very unfair toward President Trump, stating: “Definitely they're concerned that now maybe the time has come for them to be responsible for that. This is my opinion. Maybe I'm wrong. But I don't see any other serious reason to be concerned about the change in the United States. I think the world can become much safer. During the first term of President Trump, the United States didn't start any wars. This was also a unique experience, if you look at the history of the United States over at least the past several decades. As for Azerbaijan, we are certain and we are optimistic.”
President Ilham Aliyev’s confident and optimistic stance carries significant importance for regional and global stability, while also reinforcing confidence in the further expansion of future cooperation. At the same time, these remarks reaffirm Azerbaijan’s commitment to its long-term strategic diplomatic goals and its preference for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Following these optimistic views, in his interview to Euronews television on March 13 this year within the framework of the 12th Global Baku Forum, the same position on U.S.–Azerbaijan relations was once again confirmed. The President noted that Azerbaijan had felt disappointment over the deterioration of relations between the previous U.S. administration and Azerbaijan. Emphasizing that this stance represented an unfair approach to Azerbaijan’s national interests, the head of state said: “Therefore, we are very enthusiastic about rebuilding our strong partnership and relationship with the United States under Trump's administration.”
This statement once again demonstrates the strong political will of the Azerbaijani side to restore and develop strategic cooperation and shows the continuity of steps taken to rebuild trust between the two countries.
The mutual political will aimed at developing relations of friendship and cooperation is also reflected in the high-level messages coming from the United States. In his letter dated April 10, 2025, addressed to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Novruz holiday, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized: “Our countries have a long history of working together, and I look forward to the great things we can accomplish in the years to come. I applaud the steps you and Armenia are taking to bring peace to the region.”
President Trump also stated: “I look forward to working with you as our countries steam forward to successes. The United States remains a steadfast supporter of Azerbaijan's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.”
President Donald Trump’s letter reflects the depth of the existing partnership between the two countries and the confidence in future cooperation opportunities. His expression of unwavering support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity confirms the continuity and resilience of these relations. Furthermore, his positive assessment of the steps taken to establish peace in the region demonstrates that the United States is a supporter of stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus. The optimistic views expressed in the letter regarding mutual engagement indicate a strong political will for the two countries to successfully implement joint initiatives in the future.
Another example of the friendship and partnership between the two nations is President Donald Trump’s congratulatory letter to President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, dated May 28, 2025. In that letter, the U.S. President conveyed a number of important messages: “We value our relationship with the Republic of Azerbaijan and appreciate your partnership with the United States in combating terrorism, advancing energy security, and working towards peace with your neighbor. Our relationship has advanced significantly during our more than 30 years of diplomatic relations, and we look forward to continued collaboration on our bilateral priorities, including security cooperation, economic partnership, and energy development.
The United States continues to support a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. A peaceful resolution of the conflict will ensure a more prosperous South Caucasus region and will lead to greater opportunities for cooperation with the United States. Now is the time to commit to peace and usher in a new era of prosperity for the people of the South Caucasus.”
The U.S. President’s high assessment of cooperation with Azerbaijan in both security and economic fields demonstrates the strategic nature of the relationship between the two countries. At the same time, the emphasis on ensuring peace in the South Caucasus acts as a key factor for regional stability and development. This message fosters deep confidence that the relations built on mutual understanding and trust will expand further in the future.
In a congratulatory letter sent on July 1 this year to President Donald Trump on the occasion of the Independence Day of the United States, the Azerbaijani head of state included several important and strategically significant messages. President Ilham Aliyev stated that special importance is given to the friendship and partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States, emphasizing: “I am pleased to note that the United States has been a reliable partner of Azerbaijan in the energy sector for many years. Our cooperation, built on positive traditions and solid foundations, continues successfully today. We highly value the consistent support of the United States for Azerbaijan’s energy strategy and the implementation of major infrastructure projects that contribute to stability and development in the region.”
The President also noted: “Today, there are excellent opportunities to elevate the Azerbaijan-United States friendly relations and partnership to a qualitatively new level. I believe that there is great potential for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in economic-trade, energy, transportation, industry, aviation, high technologies, investments, and other important areas.”
The emphasis in President Ilham Aliyev’s letter on concrete areas of cooperation with the United States, particularly in energy and high technologies, demonstrates that the relationship is shaped not only by past experience but also by a forward-looking strategic vision. This approach paves the way for the partnership to enter a qualitatively new stage.
During the meeting with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum held in Khankendi on July 19, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev’s responses to questions raised attracted wide interest from the international community. In particular, the President’s statements regarding the country’s relations with the United States can be regarded as important messages concerning the development prospects of Azerbaijan–U.S. relations.
Noting that expectations are high, President Ilham Aliyev said: “We hope there will be important milestones in the foreseeable future that will elevate U.S.–Azerbaijani relations to a higher level. I think this will be absolutely natural, because a lot of things unite us — particularly with Mr. Trump’s administration. And by the way, his first term as president was also very positive for U.S.–Azerbaijani relations. I believe this continuation of positive trends — which we already see — is promising. As I said, he is a very busy man now, dealing with global issues and putting an end to wars. But at the same time, he is actively involved in the process in the South Caucasus, and he is doing a great job in helping Azerbaijan and Armenia find a solution to this long-lasting conflict. So, I think we will have more good news in the future.”
These remarks made in Khankendi did not merely represent a discussion but rather sketched the outlines of a new diplomatic era. The open, determined, and forward-looking messages President Ilham Aliyev delivered in response to the question about Azerbaijan–U.S. relations can be interpreted as political signals sent from Khankendi to Washington.
The diplomatic weight and regional resonance of all these statements soon became evident. In this regard, the reaction of U.S. President Donald Trump deserves special attention. On July 22 of this year, U.S. President Donald Trump shared a portion of President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks from the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum held in Khankendi on his Truth Social media platform.
This post can be seen both as an open and official response to President Ilham Aliyev’s statements and as an important message indicating that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations are entering a new phase. Trump’s gesture is not merely diplomatic courtesy but also reflects the value placed on the strategic partnership. It is another significant example demonstrating the deepening dialogue based on mutual respect and political will between the two countries.
In this context, the thank-you message posted by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev on the social network “X” on July 22, 2025, holds special significance. Commenting on Trump’s sharing of a quote from his speech at the Shusha Forum, the head of state said: “I would like to express my gratitude to President Donald Trump for sharing my remarks on his social media platform regarding the U.S.-Azerbaijan partnership and his commitment to a peace agenda — both globally and in our region — which I conveyed at the Shusha Global Media Forum.
Once again, I wish to underscore our support for President Trump’s vision and efforts to promote peace and stability around the world, including in our region. We also share common values, such as the importance of family traditions, and remain hopeful that U.S.-Azerbaijan relations will reach a new level during his Presidency. We wish him continued success in all his endeavors toward this goal.”
This message of thanks once again proves that Azerbaijan–U.S. relations are founded not only on past achievements but also on a political will oriented toward sustainable cooperation in the future. Such mutual respect and gratitude between the heads of state is an important diplomatic message for the deepening of relations.
