Important decisions with possible consequences for the South Caucasus

Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, was inaugurated on January 20 and began his term by taking an oath. He started his administration by implementing a state of emergency at the Mexico border and also pledged to immediately declare a national energy emergency, replenish strategic reserves, and export American energy worldwide.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, former U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking via video link on January 23, proposed a bold strategy to reduce global oil prices, asserting that high energy costs are prolonging the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump urged OPEC, particularly Saudi Arabia, to lower oil prices, claiming this would accelerate an end to the war.

On July 1, 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) de jure ended its 33-year presence in Azerbaijan, closing a chapter that began in the early days of the country’s independence. This information, disclosed on January 16 at a press conference by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, both culminated years of strained relations and reflected changing geopolitical affinities.

The transition team of Donald Trump, who is set to assume the presidency of the United States on January 20, 2025, is preparing a large-scale package of energy measures primarily aimed at increasing oil and gas production. The implementation of these measures is planned to begin without delay.