Baku: Antony Blinken’s policy towards Azerbaijan ruined US-Azerbaijani relations, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev highlighted how the longstanding partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States had been affected. He pointed out that Azerbaijan had always been a reliable partner to the United States, supporting them in critical operations. Azerbaijan joined US-led operations in Iraq and was one of the first non-NATO countries to participate in Afghanistan in 2001, remaining there until the last stages of the mission.

President Aliyev expressed disappointment over the imposition of sanctions on Azerbaijan following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, indicating that it was a significant source of frustration for Azerbaijan. He emphasized that despite Azerbaijan’s consistent support, the current policies have severely strained the bilateral relationship.