Newsmax: Azerbaijan could be a key regional player aligned with Trump’s strategy

Published: 2025-05-01 07:42

"The Azerbaijanis cannot afford to see the Turks and the Israelis on a collision course. Baku would not want to be forced to take sides. What it has going for itself is that both Ankara and Jerusalem trust Baku. The South Caucasus nation is uniquely positioned in that it enjoys close strategic relations with both sides, and so does the U.S. This would explain why this initial round of tactical-level talks took place in Baku," according to an article published in Newsmax, a U.S. media outlet closely aligned with the Republican Party.

"While technically outside the Middle East, Azerbaijan has a major stake in the stability of the region. Baku is all too aware of how a Turkish-Israeli conflict will benefit Iran, its immediate neighbor to the south with whom its own relations have been deeply problematic. At a time when the U.S. is trying to ensure that Turkey and Israel do not spar and is in talks with Iran on its controversial nuclear program, Azerbaijan can prove to be a key partner. Baku certainly has credibility with both the Turks and the Israelis," the article emphasizes.

"Thus, the Trump White House — as it tries to manage the Middle East in which Turkey and Israel will be competing for influence — can deeply benefit from a closer partnership with Azerbaijan, including by having it join the Abraham Accords. Baku can be a critical player in the region in keeping with the Trump administration’s strategy to have regional actors take the lead on managing security," the article notes.

By Azerbaijani-Israeli Alliance Global News