Media: if peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan is unshakeable, why is Baku buying American weapons?

On June 1, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev published a framework executive order presented to him by U.S. president Donald Trump, which repeals Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. In effect, this allows Azerbaijan to purchase American weapons, Washington Examiner reported.

The question that Congress should ask, and that Trump and Rubio should answer, is as follows: if the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan is as flawless and complete as they claim, why does Baku need modern American weapons? Who is Aliyev supposed to use them against, if not to occupy Armenian lands?

Rubio and pro-Azerbaijan advocates may whisper that Baku needs the weapons to counter Iran. Despite all the talk about the need for a corridor through Armenia, Azerbaijan has already built a corridor through Iran through which it conducts its trade. Under Aliyev’s leadership, trade between Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic has surpassed Armenia’s trade with Iran. Azerbaijan does not need weapons to confront Russia either.

Finally, Aliyev’s policy toward Russia is focused on helping the Kremlin circumvent sanctions, not on holding it accountable for events in Ukraine.

“Something is wrong in the Caucasus. Countries that stand for peace and tolerance do not occupy their neighbors’ territory and do not ethnically cleanse Christian minorities. Countries that stand behind America do not trade with Iran and do not launder money for Russia. Make no mistake: by repealing Section 907, Trump and Rubio are not protecting Christians. They are repeating the worst mistakes of president Joe Biden and secretary of state Antony Blinken,” the outlet writes.

Section 907 is part of the Freedom Support Act. It restricted the provision of direct U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan. Last August, the text of a memorandum signed by U.S. president Donald Trump suspending Section 907 with respect to Azerbaijan was made public.