On January 1, Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, remarked to The Washington Times that the administration of US President Donald Trump had demonstrated a strong commitment to Azerbaijan’s peace agenda. In an interview cited by the newspaper regarding the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Hajiyev emphasized that the US President’s swift response to Baku’s peace initiatives merited high praise. He also addressed discussions in the US Congress concerning the repeal of Section 907, Azerbaijan’s relations with Russia, and its cooperation with Israel.

Hajiyev underscored that the continued existence of Section 907 poses a serious obstacle to peace efforts, noting that while both Azerbaijan and Armenia were engaged in the difficult work of strengthening stability, “some in Congress are introducing completely unnecessary and divisive legislative acts”. Addressing bilateral relations, Hajiyev stated that ties between Azerbaijan and the United States had suffered significant damage during the Biden-Blinken administration, contrasting that period with what he described as a marked improvement under Trump. He noted: “With the Biden and Blinken administration, unfortunately, we had a lot of misunderstandings, and they inflicted a lot of damage”.

He further emphasized that restrictions under Section 907 were reimposed immediately after the end of the Afghanistan mission, while recalling that during Trump’s first term, the administration played a key role in facilitating Caspian gas supplies to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor project. Regarding Baku’s outreach to Yerevan, Hajiyev stated that Azerbaijan had taken concrete steps to build economic ties with Armenia, including the export of petroleum products and the creation of conditions for grain transit. He stressed: "It may seem symbolic, but along with symbolism, there are really important geopolitical connotations. We are making peace not only with the government of Armenia, but with the people of Armenia" . Finally, Hajiyev pointed to Azerbaijan’s internal social model, stating that the country’s long-standing tradition of religious coexistence made it a natural partner for Western countries in a volatile region.