Baku Announces End of USAID Activities, Cites Disregard for Azerbaijani Interests
On January 16, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been de jure unable to operate in Azerbaijan from June 1, 2024. This remark was made during a joint press conference with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili in Baku.
Bayramov emphasized that there is no basis for USAID's continued representation in Azerbaijan. He noted that “Azerbaijan's sovereignty, particularly following the anti-terrorist operation in 2023,” had led to a punitive response from the United States.
"The time has come for their (USAID) activities to be completely stopped," Bayramov stated. He added that during negotiations, it became evident that the United States disregarded Azerbaijan's interests and attempted to impose its own agenda, making USAID's presence unnecessary.