The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum and International Attention
As reported, the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum was held on July 13-14 under the theme “The Mission of Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust.” The forum was attended by 160 guests from 53 countries, including representatives from 30 news agencies, over 60 media organizations, and 10 international institutions. In total, the Forum has brought together nearly 600 media representatives from 81 countries over the last four years.
US-Azerbaijan Relations in Focus
One of the most anticipated topics at the forum was, naturally, the state of US-Azerbaijan relations. As a leading actor in the region, Azerbaijan’s ties with Washington offer significant insight into broader issues. Consequently, one of the first questions addressed to President Ilham Aliyev concerned the current reality of bilateral relations.
In his response, the Azerbaijani President stated that relations between Azerbaijan and the Trump Administration are excellent and have reached the level of a strategic partnership:
“My historic meeting with President Trump in Washington last August, our subsequent meeting in Davos this January, Azerbaijan’s invitation as a founding member to the Peace Council initiated by President Trump, the visit of Vice President J.D. Vance, the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership that I signed with the Vice President in Baku, and many other criteria show that relations are currently at an all-time high. Today, we are actively working on the implementation of all provisions of the Declaration on Strategic Partnership.”
Historical Context: Section 907 and the Period of Cooling
Relations with the US have always been a priority for official Baku. However, for certain reasons, relations between the two countries have not always been at the desired level. The primary cause of this cooling was the unfair Section 907, an amendment introduced by the US Congress against Azerbaijan in 1992. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US Congress passed the Freedom Support Act to provide financial aid to newly formed countries, yet Azerbaijan was excluded from this support. This was no coincidence, as Section 907 was pushed by pro-Armenian senators. Former President Joe Biden was among those who supported that draft. It is notable that during Biden’s presidency, US-Azerbaijan relations sometimes hit a dead end.
A New Chapter: Trust and Deepening Cooperation
Today, relations between the two countries are based on mutual trust and equal cooperation. Trust has been further strengthened, especially after the initialing of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House in August 2025, with the participation of President Trump. Currently, there are no outstanding issues between the US and Azerbaijan.
As a testament to this deepening cooperation, several White House officials have visited Baku in recent months, and a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership was signed between President Ilham Aliyev and Vice President J.D. Vance. Furthermore, Donald Trump’s invitation of Ilham Aliyev to the G20 Summit in Miami proves that a new chapter is opening in US-Azerbaijan relations, serving the national interests of both states and both peoples.
Author: Surxay Atakişiyev, Political Analyst
