US praises Azerbaijan's fuel shipments to Armenia as peace gesture
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has commended Azerbaijan for sending fuel shipments to Armenia, calling it a significant confidence-building measure that advances last year's historic peace deal. The shipments, the first in three decades, follow a U.S.-brokered summit and are part of ongoing normalization efforts in the South Caucasus.
In a diplomatic phone call Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Azerbaijan's recent fuel shipments to Armenia as a tangible demonstration of commitment to a landmark peace agreement. The State Department stated that Rubio commended the gesture in his conversation with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, highlighting its importance for the normalization process between the long-time South Caucasus adversaries.
A Concrete Step from the Trump-Brokered Deal
According to a readout of the call, Secretary Rubio framed the fuel shipments as "an important gesture that demonstrates Azerbaijan's continued commitment to the historic peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan." This agreement was advanced at a trilateral summit hosted by former President Donald Trump at the White House on August 8, 2025. The deal, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), includes plans to reconnect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via a transit corridor through Armenia.
Building Confidence and Broader Cooperation
Beyond the specific shipments, the two diplomats discussed additional "confidence-building measures" to foster regional peace and prosperity. They also noted "positive developments" in bilateral U.S.-Azerbaijani relations. Foreign Minister Bayramov, in a post on X, stated the talks covered prospects for a "Strategic Partnership Charter" and the implementation of the broader normalization process. The fuel transfers—first in December and a second larger shipment in early January involving thousands of tons of gasoline and diesel—mark the first such cooperation in over 30 years.
Strategic Importance and Türkiye's Vital Role
The ongoing normalization between Azerbaijan and Armenia holds profound strategic significance for regional stability and connectivity. For Türkiye, a steadfast ally of Azerbaijan and a country that has long advocated for the opening of transit routes across the South Caucasus, these developments are a direct national interest priority. The implementation of the TRIPP corridor and other confidence-building measures aligns with Türkiye's vision of an integrated region, which would enhance its own east-west trade and energy links. Türkiye has played a crucial supporting role in the post-conflict period, and its continued engagement is seen as essential for the sustainability of any lasting peace.
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