US Vice President Vance Concludes South Caucasus Tour with Landmark Partnership Charter in Azerbaijan

Vice President JD Vance has officially wrapped up a high-stakes diplomatic tour across the South Caucasus, a journey that spanned from Monday, February 9, 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia, to Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The visit culminated in the signing of a Strategic Partnership Charter, signaling a robust American commitment to the regional peace process. This diplomatic push builds upon the foundational peace agreement reached in Washington in August 2025, an initiative mediated by President Donald Trump to resolve long-standing tensions between the two neighboring nations.

In the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, Vice President Vance joined President Ilham Aliyev to formalize a document that Aliyev described as the dawn of an "entirely new stage" in bilateral relations. This comprehensive charter outlines a framework for intensified cooperation across several critical sectors, including economic development, regional security, energy production, and technological innovation. A standout provision of the agreement is the United States' commitment to provide Azerbaijan with new patrol boats to secure its territorial waters, marking the first time Washington has authorized the transfer of military hardware to Baku.

Beyond security, the partnership emphasizes a forward-looking technological agenda, including deeper collaboration in civil nuclear energy and joint ventures in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. President Aliyev took the opportunity to highlight Azerbaijan’s role as a cornerstone of international energy security, noting that the nation currently exports natural gas to 16 different countries, 11 of which are members of the NATO alliance. During the proceedings, Vice President Vance emphasized a vision of transformation, stating the necessity of fostering prosperity in regions previously defined by conflict and struggle.

The Armenian leg of the tour was equally significant, featuring a meeting between Vance and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The two leaders signed an agreement to advance discussions regarding cooperation in civil nuclear energy, while the Vice President signaled America's readiness to export sophisticated computer chips and surveillance drones to Armenia. Pashinyan characterized the visit as "truly historic," despite a brief diplomatic friction involving the removal of a reference to the Armenian Genocide from the Vice President’s official social media account—a move Vance followed by personally laying flowers at the national memorial.

A pivotal component of the new regional strategy is the Trump Regional International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) corridor. This 27-mile (approximately 43 km) transportation artery consists of both road and rail links designed to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, by traversing Armenian territory. By bypassing the traditional routes through Russia and Iran, the corridor—often referred to as the Zangezur corridor—serves as a strategic bypass. The development of this route was a key tenet of the August 2025 Washington Peace Agreement, granting the United States exclusive development rights for a period of 99 years.

This strategic maneuver by the United States effectively solidifies its influence in the South Caucasus, a region that has historically remained within Russia's geopolitical orbit. The sequential signing of agreements in Yerevan and Baku illustrates the Trump-Vance administration's intent to construct a durable architecture for regional stability anchored in economic interdependence and security guarantees. If successful, these agreements are poised to transform the South Caucasus into a vital hub for international commerce and a testament to modern American diplomacy.