WASHINGTON—The Trump administration’s dealmaking blitz with Belarus has secured the release of hundreds of detainees. By trading targeted sanctions relief for the release of political prisoners in Belarus, the White House has helped free more than five hundred people from unjust captivity. A similar deal with Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus would produce major rewards, with much less risk.
To pursue this “grand deal” in Azerbaijan, the Trump administration should work with Congress to propose ending a ban on arms sales to Baku in exchange for the release of unjustly detained individuals—some with US ties—sitting in the country’s jails. This is a rare moment for a bipartisan win-win and a relatively cost-free way to upgrade US relations with a key strategic energy and transport partner that borders both Iran and Russia. With proper timing, Armenia, too, could be supportive, if the release includes at least some Armenians currently held in Azerbaijan.
What to do with Section 907
The Trump administration should engage Congress to resolve Baku’s number one concern on Capitol Hill: the repeal of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act that bans US arms sales to Azerbaijan. Congress originally adopted the measure in 1992 to punish Azerbaijan’s treatment of Armenians in Karabakh and its blockade of Armenia. In 2001, the US Senate passed an amendment that allowed the White House to waive Section 907 restrictions. Almost every year since, both Republican and Democratic presidents have indeed waived Section 907. This renders the text inconsequential to the United States, but it is highly symbolic to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s government, which views it as an impediment to closer relations with Washington.
