President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on Wednesday criticized the outgoing Joe Biden Administration for what he called biased toward Azerbaijan.
Aliyev said that the policies of Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, especially in reinstating Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, created a schism in relations between Baku and Washington.
He went on to call both Biden and Blinken “ungrateful” for the alliance shown to the U.S. by Baku.
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act was enacted into law in 1992 in response to Azerbaijan’s blockade and use of military force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Successive administrations have routinely waived Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act under a waiver authority intended to secure Azerbaijan’s support for U.S. security interests in the region.
The Biden Administration did not fully reinstate the provisions of Section 907, as Aliyev suggested.
Aliyev voiced his complaint to Johnny Moore, the head of U.S. Congress of Christian Leaders, during a meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where world and industry leaders will gather for the annual economic forum.
Earlier this month, Aliyev also voiced his frustration not only toward the U.S. but also the European Union, saying the Western powers were using double standards in their dealings with Azerbaijan.
Speaking to local TV channels on January 7, Aliyev also criticized EU members, in particular France, for what he deemed as “interference.” He conveyed a similar message in an interview with Russia’s Rossiya Segodnya agency in December, in which he signaled his alignment with Trump and other rightwing leaders.
Commenting on Washington’s role in the region, Aliyev argued that the Biden administration had “undermined ties” by favoring Armenia, which he said contrasted with the position of “positive cooperation” under former presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush and Trump.
“They [the Biden administration] champion Ukraine’s territorial integrity but criticize us for restoring our own,” Aliyev said.
Despite energy partnerships with the EU, Aliyev criticized Brussels for providing arms funding to Armenia through what he termed a “so-called peace facility.” He also faulted French President Emmanuel Macron for “constant interference” and attempts to boycott COP29.
