Former U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan and ex-co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, shared his views on Donald Trump’s foreign policy, emphasizing that his administration is fundamentally altering traditional U.S. diplomatic approaches, as seen in negotiations with Russia.

Bryza noted that Trump lacks a clear strategy for the South Caucasus, and no one knows what his policy will be. However, he believes Trump has a good opportunity to achieve peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

He argued that Trump operates like a businessman in foreign affairs, favoring deal-making over strategic planning, as reported by Vesti.az .

"This means that if he makes a concession, he expects something in return. But this is not a strategy—it’s business," Bryza remarked.

He also highlighted that Trump’s approach disrupts long-standing U.S. policies towards Europe.

"I think Trump is displaying incredible naivety towards Putin. He believes Putin seeks peace, but that’s not the case—Putin wants war," he said.

Regarding the possibility of a deal with Russia that bypasses Ukraine, Bryza dismissed the idea as impossible.

"There will be no success. This is a dead end," the former diplomat stated.

Speaking about U.S. policy towards Armenia, he asserted that Trump's actions are impossible to predict.

*"He is highly unpredictable. I am 100% sure that no new policy exists, so Biden’s approach will continue. However, if U.S.-Russia relations change significantly, Washington’s stance on Armenia will shift as well.

Biden and the EU strengthened ties with Armenia because Pashinyan expressed his desire to reduce Russian influence and align closer with the West. That’s why Armenia received such strong support. Of course, in a broader sense, this was a policy directed against Russia. But if Trump manages to normalize relations with Moscow, Washington may reconsider its policy toward Armenia,"* Bryza explained.

When asked about the potential improvement of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations, Bryza offered no definitive answer.

"I don’t know. As I said before, Trump has no clear policy toward this region. Therefore, no one can predict what will happen with Azerbaijan. What I can say is that relations are not at the same level as they were during the Bush or Obama administrations," he added.

Bryza emphasized that Trump remains primarily focused on issues related to Russia and Ukraine.

Addressing the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, he suggested that if Trump wishes to engage in the peace process, now is the right moment.

"If Trump wants to establish peace, this is a great opportunity for him."

He noted that although the parties are close to an agreement, political obstacles remain.

"We know that both sides are near a consensus, but Pashinyan is facing serious political resistance," he said.

Discussing U.S.-Russia negotiations, Bryza warned of significant risks for the post-Soviet region.

"This is a huge risk. Trump is effectively signaling to Putin that he can use force against his neighbors without serious consequences," he noted.

According to him, if Moscow-Kyiv negotiations fail, Trump may take a hard stance. If they succeed, the consequences could be dire for all former Soviet republics.