Important visit by US Vice President Vance to Azerbaijan in critical period

US Vice President JD Vance will travel to the South Caucasus on 9–11 February 2026. His itinerary includes Armenia on 9–10 February and Azerbaijan on 10–11 February. He will be accompanied by Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg.

This will be the first visit to Azerbaijan by a US Vice President since 2008, when Vice President Dick Cheney traveled to Azerbaijan and Georgia just weeks after the Russia–Georgia war. That visit was heavily shaped by security developments and was widely interpreted as a signal to Moscow of continued US strategic interest in both Azerbaijan and Georgia.

JD Vance’s visit is also significant in terms of both security policy and economic engagement. It is expected to give momentum to the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). The US–Armenia joint declaration has already outlined parameters of TRIPP. However, Armenia has not yet submitted formal proposals to Azerbaijan regarding its vision for unimpeded transit to Nakhchivan via the Meghri. Vice President Vance’s visit could help accelerate this process.

The visit also takes place amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran. In recent weeks, senior Iranian officials—including the Deputy Foreign Minister Jalalzadeh and Defense Minister Nasirzadeh (both ethnic Azerbaijanis) have visited Azerbaijan ahead of Vance’s trip. In addition, few days ago a phone conversation took place between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran, during which President Aliyev offered to contribute to de-escalating regional tensions.

Overall, Vice President Vance’s South Caucasus visit carries strategic weight, combining security considerations, regional diplomacy, and economic connectivity initiatives at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.

The Daily Baku editorial team