The Washington Times: Azerbaijan’s close ties to Israel make it a natural partner for U.S. regional initiatives

Published: 2026-01-20 07:56

"The administration’s National Security Strategy, released publicly in early December, is conspicuously silent on American interests in Eurasia. Also missing is a clear vision of how Washington can cement these early gains in the region," writes The Washington Times, a conservative American newspaper close to the Republican Party.

"One such step would be to remove outdated restrictions affecting key regional players. Prominent among them is Section 907 of the 1992 U.S. Freedom Support Act, which limits U.S. government assistance to Azerbaijan... It remains a perennial irritant in ties between the U.S. and Azerbaijan and a latent political lever for the country’s critics. Working with Congress to formally repeal Section 907 would help the White House send a powerful signal to the government of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that closer alignment with U.S. priorities, including its current rapprochement with Yerevan, carries tangible benefits," the newspaper notes.

"Another priority should be integrating Eurasian partners more closely into American objectives in other regions. In the Middle East, for instance, Azerbaijan’s close strategic ties to Israel make it a natural partner for the administration’s current regional initiatives — and the Abraham Accords," The Washington Times adds.

By Azerbaijani-Israeli Alliance Global News