U.S. Relations With Azerbaijan

More information about Azerbaijan is available on the Azerbaijan Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS 

The United States established diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan in 1992, following its independence from the Soviet Union. Together, the two countries work to promote European energy security, expand bilateral trade and investment, and combat terrorism and transnational threats. The United States is committed to strengthening democracy and promoting economic diversification in Azerbaijan. The United States strongly supports efforts to pursue a lasting and sustainable political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and promote regional stability, peace, and prosperity.

U.S. Assistance to Azerbaijan 

U.S. Government assistance to Azerbaijan aims to improve Azerbaijan’s capacity to deal with security threats, increase and diversify economic development, and promote independent institutions and civil society.

Bilateral Economic Relations 

The United States and Azerbaijan have a Trade Relations Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty. The governments periodically convene the U.S.-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission to discuss bilateral cooperation to promote trade and investment. The United States has long supported Azerbaijan’s efforts to develop and export its energy resources to Western markets. Crude oil is the single largest import from Azerbaijan to the United States. U.S. companies are involved in offshore oil development projects in Azerbaijan, export aircraft and heavy machinery to Azerbaijan, and are considering opportunities in agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, transportation services, and other fields. With some exceptions, primarily in the national security and defense sectors, Azerbaijan’s Law on Protection of Foreign Investments permits foreign direct investment in any activity in which a national investor may also invest. Azerbaijan is a beneficiary country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program. The GSP program provides an incentive for investors to produce in Azerbaijan and export selected products duty-free to the U.S. market. The United States considers Azerbaijan to have succeeded to the rights and obligations of the former USSR under the U.S.-USSR Tax Treaty.

Azerbaijan’s Membership in International Organizations 

Azerbaijan and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Azerbaijan is an observer to the Organization of American States and the World Trade Organization. Azerbaijan also participates in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Partnership for Peace program.

Bilateral Representation 

Principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.

Azerbaijan maintains an  embassy   in the United States at 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel. (202) 337-3500.

More information about Azerbaijan is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

ACE Country Assistance Fact Sheet (PDF)
CIA World Factbook Azerbaijan Page 
U.S. Embassy
USAID Azerbaijan Page 
History of U.S. Relations With Azerbaijan
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics 
Export.gov International Offices Page 
Library of Congress Country Studies 
Travel Information