The second meeting of the Strategic Working Group, established to draft the Strategic Partnership Charter between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States, was held in an online format on January 21, 2026.
The meeting was co-chaired by Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reported that the session focused on the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the preparation of the Strategic Partnership Charter, which was signed between Azerbaijan and the US during the Washington Peace Summit in August last year.
The parties exchanged views on expanding cooperation in energy and trade, transit and regional connectivity, economic investments, defense and security, and counter-terrorism. Furthermore, the development of partnerships in modern and strategically significant areas such as artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure remained a key focus of the discussions. The MFA noted that negotiations on the text of the Strategic Partnership Charter are ongoing, with plans to continue the process intensively in the upcoming stages.
This diplomatic engagement follows the continued strengthening of bilateral ties under the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has emphasized regional stability and economic partnership in the South Caucasus. The Strategic Partnership Charter is expected to serve as a comprehensive roadmap for future relations between Baku and Washington, solidifying Azerbaijan's role as a key regional player in energy security and logistics. Such high-level working groups are standard diplomatic mechanisms used to institutionalize long-term cooperation between sovereign states on matters of mutual national interest.
