Baku: Azerbaijan is strategically important to the United States in the South Caucasus in terms of regional security, American political scientist Jason Epstein said in the latest episode of the "Azerbaijan and the World" program broadcast on the AZERTAC website. According to him, the administration of President Donald Trump highly values Azerbaijan as a crucial partner in ensuring regional stability amid destructive external influences.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the expert emphasized that Azerbaijan plays a key role in diversifying Western energy supplies, creating new and modernizing existing transit links, and promoting stability in a traditionally unstable region. Furthermore, cooperation with Azerbaijan is fully consistent with the stated priorities of the United States, especially as the Trump administration emphasizes burden-sharing and seeks reliable partners willing to confidently confront potential adversaries.

Epstein also noted the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Ilham Aliyev, which took place several days ago in Davos. In his view, the very fact of this meeting is further confirmation of Azerbaijan's importance to Washington. Meanwhile, the invitation to President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to join the recently established Board of Peace, and their acceptance of the invitation, indicates a move in the right direction, although significant work remains, the political scientist believes.