In a time when energy diplomacy often conjures images of oil tankers and pipelines, Azerbaijan is offering a new chapter—one written not in crude oil but in steel and silicon. The South Caucasus nation, historically seen through the prism of its oil reserves, is quietly engineering a shift that could redefine its economic identity and strengthen transatlantic ties: a surge in non-oil exports, particularly to the United States.

Over the last five years, Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports to the U.S. have grown at an impressive pace. While energy still dominates bilateral discussions, the United States now ranks among Azerbaijan’s top seven non-oil export destinations. This statistic may seem unremarkable in isolation, but it represents a subtle and important pivot in Azerbaijan’s trade architecture—one that carries geopolitical as well as economic weight.

Central to this evolving relationship is the strategic cooperation in industrial production. A recent visit by the U.S. Embassy’s Economic Affairs team to Sumgayit’s Baku Steel Company reveals not just diplomacy in motion but a deliberate........

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