Trump's Second Term Could Present Challenges and Opportunities for the Caucasus

Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev got what he wished for in the US presidential election: Donald Trump will return to the White House. But Trump’s early moves in assembling his foreign policy team suggest his second term may end up being a bumpier ride for Azerbaijan than Aliyev anticipated.  Broadly speaking, the incoming Trump administration is expected to de-emphasize adherence to democratic standards and respect for individual rights as guideposts for US foreign policy. That is welcome news for authoritarian-minded leaders, such as…