“US Vice President Jay Dee Vance's visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan was not just a protocol visit”. Political commentator Gulamhuseyn Alibeyli said this in an interview with Medianews.az.
He stated that this visit was a unique opportunity for our region, an indicator of the start of a new strategic phase in the global competition for the South Caucasus: “The signing of strategic partnership charters with both states can be considered an indicator of the role played by the South Caucasus in global geopolitics and how this space is valued by the US.
The signing of strategic partnership charters means that the US regards the South Caucasus as a global geopolitical space belonging to its “vital interests” circle, as an energy and transit center, and builds its policy in this space over Armenia and Azerbaijan. It should be noted that although the US tried for a long time to build its policy in the South Caucasus through Georgia, it was not able to succeed. Currently, by reconsidering its priorities in the region, the US has gained a superior position in global competition and at the same time significantly weakened the positions and influence opportunities of Russia and Iran in the South Caucasus, taking preventive measures to prevent China's entry into the region.
This visit changed the geopolitical balance in our region and laid the foundation for stability, security, and mutually beneficial cooperation overall for the South Caucasus, and was beneficial for our country in several directions alongside the pan-regional aspect.”
According to G. Alibeyli, the benefits of the visit for Azerbaijan can be assessed in accelerating the activation of the Zangezur corridor, and cooperation directions in energy, defense, security, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies: “The Zangezur corridor should be evaluated not just as a route connecting the main part of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, but as a transport and communication junction connecting the Turkic world and Europe with Asia, determining the geopolitical fate of the South Caucasus, serving permanent peace in the region, and being a decisive factor ensuring security.
Moreover, bringing up new cooperation mechanisms in defense industry, combating terrorism, and artificial intelligence responding to modern challenges will undoubtedly result in strengthening the country's national security mechanism and accelerating the process of digital transformation.”
Togrul Ali,
Medianews.az