US Vice President J.D. Vance’s decision to visit Baku and Yerevan, while bypassing Tbilisi, reflects Washington’s current strategic priorities in the South Caucasus. The visits underscore US engagement in the post-conflict normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including corridor arrangements, regional connectivity, and energy security. Analysts note that Georgia’s absence from the itinerary is linked to unresolved political and diplomatic issues, as well as Washington’s focus on negotiations related to the Zangezur corridor. The move highlights a targeted US approach aimed at shaping a new regional security and economic architecture, rather than engaging in broad, symbolic diplomacy.
