Azerbaijan, U.S. Discuss Advancing Strategic Energy Cooperation
Baku, The Gulf Observer: During an official visit to Washington, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov held a series of high-level meetings with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service David L. Vogel, and Executive Director of the White House National Energy Superiority Council Jarrod Agen.
The meetings focused on elevating bilateral energy cooperation to a qualitatively new level. Both sides underscored the United States’ long-standing role as a reliable energy partner of Azerbaijan and its continued support for major infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening regional and European energy security.
The discussions highlighted the strategic importance of the August 8 meeting in Washington between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and U.S. President Donald Trump, which marked the beginning of a new phase in bilateral energy collaboration. In this context, the parties noted that the forthcoming Azerbaijan–U.S. Strategic Partnership Charter and the TRIPP route are expected to provide fresh momentum for bilateral and regional energy cooperation.
In line with shared priorities to increase investment in the energy sector and expand regional connectivity infrastructure, the officials explored cooperation opportunities in oil and gas development, electricity export and transit routes, the TRIPP initiative, and other interconnector projects.
The sides also reviewed the expansion of cooperation with ExxonMobil, a partner in the Azeri–Chirag–Gunashli oil field project, and discussed the multifaceted operations of SOCAR Trading in Houston. In addition, they exchanged views on potential partnerships with U.S. companies in various areas, including advanced technologies and data centers, the establishment of a regular bilateral energy dialogue mechanism, and the preparation of a comprehensive roadmap for energy cooperation.
