2.C6+1 from the U.S. Perspective: Strategic Imperatives and Expectations
An analysis of U.S. policies toward the region reveals three key aspects. Foremost among these is the critical role Azerbaijan plays in the global supply and logistics architecture concerning U.S. strategies. Azerbaijan is an indispensable actor in the logistics system, situated at the crossroads of global trade. It assumes a central role within the Middle Corridor, facilitating a seamless and secure flow of commerce, specifically by bypassing Russia and Iran[1]. Bolstered by major investments such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway and the Baku International Sea Trade Port (Alat), this strategic positioning has propelled the country beyond a mere transit route, transforming it into a full-fledged logistics hub.[2]
The second key aspect of U.S. priorities in the region is the supply security of Rare Earth Elements (REEs). According to International Energy Agency (IEA) data, China controls 51% of global REE mining and 76% of refining capacity. Data from Statista corroborates U.S. vulnerability in this domain; indeed, between 2020 and 2023, the U.S. sourced 70% of its REE imports from China. Within the scope of its strategy to mitigate this high dependency, Washington attributes two critical roles to Azerbaijan: first, its function as a logistics hub for transporting Central Asian resources to the West; and second, the alternative supply potential offered by the mineral reserves in the liberated Karabakh region.
The third fundamental priority for the U.S. in the region is to counterbalance the entrenched influence of Russia and China. Although Russia codifies the region as its sphere of influence (or 'backyard') under the 'Near Abroad' doctrine, it remains insufficient in bolstering its political and military dominance with economic capacity.[3] China is effectively filling this economic void left by Russia, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).[4] The U.S., which has hitherto limited its presence to a narrow security perspective defined by the Iranian nuclear threat, Afghanistan-based extremism, and counter-terrorism, now aims to reverse this approach. In this strategic transformation, the evolution of the regional cooperation format from C5 to C6 with the inclusion of Azerbaijan constitutes a vital instrument for the Washington administration.
[1] 1. T. Z. Dashdamirova, "The Development of Azerbaijan's Foreign Trade Through Transport-Logistics Systems: Prospects for International Cooperation and Peace in the Context of SDG 16 and SDG 17," TIM 3 (2025): 2, https://doi.org/10.58225/tim.2025-3-446-452.
[2] A.g.e, 2.
[3] Elkhan Nuriyev, “The European Union, Russia and China: Competing Regionalisms in the Eastern Partnership Region,” Connections: A Journal for Historians and Area Specialists, 18 Eylül 2020, 3-5, https://www.connections.clio-online.net/article/id/fda-133268
[4] Nuriyev, “Competing Regionalisms,” 4.