On November 18, 2025, the Center for Analysis of International Relations (The AIR Center) organized the first Azerbaijan-United States Think Tank Forum.
The forum, titled “Bridging Visions: Azerbaijan-United States Dialogue for a Strategic Partnership,” brought together representatives from the government and local think tanks, as well as US-based institutions such as the Atlantic Council, New Lines Institute, Hudson Institute, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, and "The National Interest" magazine.
In his opening speech, Farid Shafiyev, AIR Center Chairman, drew attention to several positive outcomes of the August 8 Washington summit.
The August 8 summit carries several positive implications. First, it represents an important step in the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process. Both parties have expressed commitments to advance the peace process. In this context, the circumstances related to the amendment of the Armenian Constitution must be addressed and implemented. Another prerequisite-the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group-has already been fulfilled. Second, the meeting has direct implications for US-Azerbaijan relations. In addition to the waiver of Section 907, both sides signed an MoU regarding the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to develop a Charter on Strategic Partnership. It encompasses not only the energy sphere but also regional connectivity, including trade, transit, economic investment, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, and security cooperation. Third, the meeting bears significance for the broader South Caucasus region. The region remains situated on the perimeter of two ongoing conflicts, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict, which heightens the strategic importance of stability and diplomacy in the South Caucasus. Beyond these points, as think tanks, we remain committed to contributing to the deepening of bilateral relations and supporting constructive dialogue between the parties.
In his address at the 1st Azerbaijan-US Think Tank Forum, Ambassador and Founding Rector of ADA University Hafiz Pashayev said that the engagement with major US think tanks has played a significant role in shaping Azerbaijan’s diplomatic training and in strengthening bilateral ties between Baku and Washington. He also recalled that in the early 1990s one of the key tasks of Azerbaijani diplomacy was to convey objective information about Azerbaijan to the American public. According to him, the work of the embassy and the establishment of the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce became important components of this effort.
For his part, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center John E. Herbst said that the inclusion of Azerbaijan in the new regional cooperation architecture will become an important strategic development for both Central Asia and the South Caucasus".
Herbst recalled that two weeks ago, Washington hosted the first US-Central Asia Summit (C5+1), and a week later, in Tashkent, the five Central Asian countries agreed to admit Azerbaijan as a full participant in the format of consultative meetings of heads of state. “This is a significant step that strengthens regional ties and opens a new chapter in cooperation,” he noted. He also stated that the Atlantic Council intends to institutionalize the format of expert meetings to be held in parallel with the annual political sessions of C5/C6+1. “We have already begun this work: the first analytical conference took place in Washington one day after the C5+1 summit. And we plan to hold such events every time the C6+1 countries convene at the level of senior leaders,” he said.
The 1st Azerbaijan-United States Think Tank Forum featured sessions on “Assessing the Washington Summit: Implications for US-Azerbaijan Relations,” “The Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process Following the Washington Summit,” and “Energy Security and Connectivity.”
*The first Azerbaijani-US think tanks forum can be viewed at the following link:
