On April 3rd, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev by phone. According to the Azerbaijani Presidential Press Service, Secretary Blinken acknowledged concerns raised by Azerbaijan regarding a trilateral meeting scheduled for April 5th between the U.S., the European Union, and Armenia. He emphasized the meeting's primary focus on Armenian economic development.

President Aliyev, however, expressed concerns based on his understanding that the meeting might involve discussions on military support for Armenia, joint military exercises, and infrastructure development along the Azerbaijani border. He further emphasized that such steps, including recent French arms sales to Armenia, encourage regional arms races and could lead to provocations.

Secretary Blinken reiterated that the upcoming trilateral meeting is not intended to be adversarial towards Azerbaijan.

The conversation also touched on the ongoing peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Aliyev welcomed the progress made during recent foreign minister-level discussions in Berlin but stressed the need for an expedited negotiation process. He reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to the peace process and refuted Western claims that Azerbaijan intends to attack Armenia.

President Aliyev also expressed his disappointment with the lack of transparency and inclusivity regarding the trilateral meeting. He argued that proceeding with the meeting despite Azerbaijan's concerns could hinder regional peace and cooperation.

The phone call concluded with a discussion on bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Azerbaijan. Secretary Blinken expressed a desire to expand cooperation in various areas, referencing their discussions at the Munich Security Conference in February. President Aliyev welcomed this prospect and highlighted the potential for collaboration on climate change and green technologies during the ongoing COP29 conference.

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