Azerbaijan

Perceptions of Partisanship: Why Azerbaijan Views the United States as a Barrier to Azerbaijani-Armenian Peace Negotiations?

Azerbaijan perceives the United States as a significant obstacle in its peace negotiations with Armenia due to several actions and policies that it views as favoring Armenian interests over Azerbaijani sovereignty. Baku’s concerns are rooted in a combination of diplomatic, military, and legislative moves by the US, which Azerbaijan interprets as support for Armenia’s longstanding territorial claims and a disregard for Azerbaijan’s perspective on regional stability.

One central issue is Azerbaijan’s insistence that Armenia amend its constitution, which currently contains territorial claims over parts of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan argues that a peace process cannot progress until Armenia recognizes Azerbaijani territorial integrity by renouncing these claims (https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-constitution-azerbaijan-nagorno-karabakh/33068045.html). However, American involvement in the region is seen by Azerbaijan as encouraging Armenia to hold on to these constitutional provisions, delaying any meaningful commitment to peace. In Baku’s view, US diplomatic efforts have enabled Armenia to resist necessary constitutional changes, undermining direct negotiations and the goal of long-term stability.

Azerbaijan’s concerns are amplified by the Biden administration’s perceived alignment with Armenian historical grievances. President Joe Biden’s recognition of the events of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire as “genocide” was a deeply symbolic gesture toward Armenian interests and a break with previous US administrations. For Azerbaijan, this acknowledgment signals a shift in US policy that favors Armenian narratives and implies support for Armenia’s position on other regional disputes. Azerbaijan interprets this stance as part of a larger trend in US policy, which it sees as consistently sympathetic to Armenian interests and ultimately detrimental to a balanced, impartial peace process.

The expansion of US military cooperation with Armenia has further deepened Azerbaijan’s distrust. The recent “Eagle Partner 2024” military exercise, along with US arms deliveries to Armenia, represents what Baku perceives as a growing American military presence in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan views these actions as evidence that the US is cultivating Armenia as a strategic partner in the region, challenging Azerbaijan’s own security and political stability. Baku interprets this partnership as a clear indication of US support for Armenia’s interests over its own, increasing tension rather than fostering a conducive environment for peace.

Diplomatic statements and legislative actions within the US have also raised concerns in Azerbaijan. Recently, certain US Congress members and officials have expressed criticism of Azerbaijan’s actions, particularly in relation to human rights issues and the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh. Legislative proposals such as Congressman Adam Schiff’s “Artsakh Revenue Restoration Act” are seen by Azerbaijan as overtly pro-Armenian, with initiatives to sanction Azerbaijani assets and provide compensation to Armenians who were displaced. Azerbaijan regards these measures as attempts to legitimize Armenian claims, dismissing Azerbaijani sovereignty and echoing Armenia’s longstanding grievances.

In response, Azerbaijan has hinted at countermeasures and voiced its political preferences regarding US leadership. Frustrated by what it perceives as US favoritism, Azerbaijan has considered blocking American transportation routes through its territory, which serve as critical transit pathways to Central Asia. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has also expressed support for a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, indicating that he hopes a new administration might adopt a more pragmatic and less interventionist stance toward the region. Aliyev’s stance suggests a belief that different US leadership could alleviate the perceived pro-Armenian bias and facilitate a more direct negotiation process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In summary, Azerbaijan’s perception of the United States as a stumbling block in its negotiations with Armenia stems from a series of US policies and actions that Baku interprets as enabling Armenian revanchism and undermining its own territorial integrity. Azerbaijan’s response reflects its frustration with current US foreign policy and its hope for a shift in American diplomatic priorities that would lead to a more balanced approach in the South Caucasus, fostering an environment where genuine peace negotiations might succeed.