Azerbaijan is the bulwark against two U.S. adversaries — Iran and Russia — and Washington should deepen its strategic presence in the South Caucasus accordingly. That means expanding security cooperation with Baku, removing outdated barriers to U.S. assistance and resisting pressure groups that work against a durable regional peace. A stable settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan would open trade routes across Eurasia and strengthen Western influence along a frontier where Iranian and Russian power still seeks to dominate.

The stakes became clear on March 5, when Iranian drones struck Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan, hitting the airport terminal and a nearby school and injuring four people. The drones reportedly had Russian-made parts, raising suspicions about Moscow’s indirect involvement. Azerbaijan responded by withdrawing diplomats from Tehran and Tabriz and mobilizing forces near the Iranian border. A day later Azerbaijani security service has arrested four operatives of Iran’s IRGC that planned to attack the strategic Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, Israel’s embassy and a synagogue. The episode underscores Baku’s strategic position. Azerbaijan sits on the front line between the West and two hostile powers. 

Why Azerbaijan matters to the U.S.

Washington already recognizes the region’s growing importance. During his February visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vice President J.D. Vance underscored U.S. interest in expanding trade and security ties across the South Caucasus. The administration pledged billions in investment for Armenia’s nuclear energy sector while signing a strategic partnership agreement with Azerbaijan. The visit also........

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