Biden administration driving US-Azerbaijan relations towards irreparable collapse - ANALYSIS

The discussion of the act related to Azerbaijan's "aggression" against Karabakh in the US Congress ("Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act") is part of the West's scenario of using Armenia to escalate tensions in the region.

According to Report, Adam Schiff, the vice-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, claimed in his speech that Azerbaijan's ongoing actions against the people of "Artsakh" have created a humanitarian disaster tantamount to ethnic cleansing. He emphasized the "necessity of ensuring justice."

Schiff's demands include the creation of an "Artsakh Revenue Recovery Fund," which would seize Azerbaijan's assets and use the funds to compensate Armenians displaced from "Artsakh" who lost their property, businesses, and jobs due to Azerbaijan's "military attack." He also calls for establishing a simplified process allowing "displaced Armenians" to apply for compensation from the Fund.

Additionally, there are demands "to seize personal assets in the US and impose visa restrictions on high-ranking Azerbaijani officials and their close family members who participated in or supported the military attack on artsakh."

The "Artsakh Revenue Recovery Act" of 2024 is supported by Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Jim Costa (D-Calif), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), James McGovern (D-Mass.), Grace Meng (D-NY), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky(D-Calif.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and Lori Trahan (D-Mass.).

It is clear that Adam Schiff is not acting alone. This is yet another US provocation against Azerbaijan. The Biden administration is creating conditions for anti-Azerbaijani actions by people like Schiff, thereby driving US-Azerbaijan relations towards disaster.

Schiff's legislative initiative, which envisages the seizure of state funds from Azerbaijan "for the benefit of Karabakh Armenians," is an example of theft and fraud. Similar provocations against Azerbaijan continue in other international bodies and organizations. For instance, when Azerbaijan applied for a loan from the Asian Development Bank, the process was halted due to US efforts.

The US has reinstated Section 907, an example of a hypocritical and unfair sanctions regime against Azerbaijan. The US conducts joint military exercises with Armenia and supplies Yerevan with weapons directly and through its satellites and allies. On April 5, 2024, Washington and its allies created a new "Marshall Plan" for Armenia.

These steps by the Biden administration, its pro-Armenian policy, and especially Schiff's initiative have brought the situation in US-Azerbaijan relations to an irreversible point.

The US is effectively turning into a second France, suffering for its anti-Azerbaijani policy and becoming a victim of those under its subordination. Washington understands that a possible peace will be an insurmountable obstacle to any third-party intervention in the region. Therefore, it goes to great lengths to recreate tensions, using Armenia, the weakest link in the region.

Such attempts may be partially successful for the US and France. Armenia is already accusing Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing, avoiding peace talks, and thinking about revenge, which is an apparent suicide attempt for them. Clearly, the US and France, provoking Yerevan, are not interested in Armenia's fate under any circumstances.

The point is that such attempts do not promise anything good for Armenia. Similar steps designed to distract official Yerevan from possible peace and push it towards revenge could lead to a rekindling of tensions. Is Armenia ready for this? We think not.

Such steps, in fact, have a boomerang effect. Western countries, aiming to strengthen their influence in the region, are undermining the chances of their own presence in the South Caucasus by damaging bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, the strongest actor in the region.

Azerbaijan will not leave this step unanswered if implemented, and it will mean the end of the US policy in the South Caucasus. After that, the US will be expelled from the South Caucasus, and Azerbaijan will hinder all US transportation projects in the region, including access to Central Asia. President Ilham Aliyev is resolute in his policy of defending Azerbaijan's national interests and will never sacrifice the country's interests and sovereignty. Sooner or later, as it was during the US operation in Afghanistan, Washington will need Azerbaijan again. However, the Biden administration is driving bilateral relations to an irreparable collapse with its actions.