ENERGY SURPRISES OF OBSEC SUMMIT

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.

In a significant diplomatic move, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan embarked on an official visit to Armenia, marking a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two nations. The meeting between President Tokayev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resulted in the signing of a joint statement aimed at fostering cooperation and easing tensions that had simmered between the two countries.