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 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 supports efforts to peacefully resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reopen the closed border with Armenia, and promote regional stability, peace, and prosperity.

U.S. Assistance to Azerbaijan

U.S. Government assistance to Azerbaijan aims to encourage reforms that promote the development of democratic institutions and processes, sustainable economic growth, as well as promote regional stability, peace, and prosperity. A fact sheet on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan can be found here.

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, and crude oil is its single largest import from Azerbaijan. U.S. companies are involved in offshore oil development projects in Azerbaijan, export aircraft and heavy machinery to Azerbaijan, and have been exploring emerging investment opportunities in telecommunications and other fields. The Law on Protection of Foreign Investments permits foreign direct investment in any activity in which a national investor may also invest, unless otherwise prohibited by law, which include those relating to national security and defense. Azerbaijan has been designated as a beneficiary country under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, under which a range of products that Azerbaijan might seek to export are eligible for duty-free entry to the United States. The GSP program provides an incentive for investors to produce in Azerbaijan and export selected products duty-free to the U.S. market.

Azerbaijan's Membership in International Organizations

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

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan is Robert F. Cekuta; other 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:

Department of State Azerbaijan Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Azerbaijan Page
U.S. Embassy: Azerbaijan
USAID Azerbaijan Page
History of U.S. Relations With Azerbaijan
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information