US: Republican senator blocks Trump’s pick for ambassador to Azerbaijan, Armenian-Americans applaud
- Published
- Place
- Washington, United States
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Republican Senator Thom Tillis is blocking the nomination of Alexander Alden, Donald Trump’s choice to become US ambassador to Azerbaijan. “I’m not going to let him out. Done,” he told the US news site Semafor. In practice, he refuses to let the nomination be approved in a package with others, which makes confirmation impossible before the current Congress ends in early January. The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the largest Armenian-American political organisation, welcomed the move on 13 November. It objects to Alden’s financial ties to Palantir, the US data analytics giant, at a time when Baku is interested in its services. Semafor also revealed his role in a policy seen as favourable to Moscow’s allies in the Balkans.
A hold that pushes the file into 2027
“He can get a hearing, I’m just not going to let him go through en bloc. Which means it’s not going to happen in this Congress,” Thom Tillis, who represents North Carolina, told reporter Eleanor Mueller. Since last year, Republicans have been confirming many nominations in packages to speed things up. Without that shortcut, Alexander Alden would need an individual vote, and little time remains.
The current Congress ends in early January. Unconfirmed nominations then go back to the White House. And the Democrats, winners of the 3 November elections, will control the new Senate. Asked about Alden’s chances there, Thom Tillis replied, according to the ANCA: “I’m going to go out on a limb and say you’re probably right” that he would stay stuck.
Palantir and the Balkans: a contested nominee
Alexander Alden currently advises Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a special government employee, a status that allows him to remain a senior counselor at Palantir. According to his financial disclosure, cited by the ANCA, he holds between $5 million and $25 million in company stock. He has pledged to leave Palantir and divest within 90 days of confirmation. Yet, according to Azerbaijani state media, officials from Baku met Palantir representatives this year to discuss contracts.
Semafor also revealed that Alden, born in Sarajevo under the name Mulabdić, played a central role in the Trump administration’s rapprochement with Milorad Dodik, the Moscow-friendly Bosnian Serb leader. The State Department says he “enjoys the full trust and confidence” of its leadership.
Armenian prisoners at the heart of the demands
“America needs an Ambassador to Azerbaijan who holds Ilham Aliyev to account — not one who represents this dictator’s interests in Washington,” said Aram Hamparian, the ANCA’s executive director. The organisation is urging senators to secure Alden’s commitment to work for the release of the 16 Armenians sentenced in Baku in February to terms ranging from 15 years to life, and to restore Red Cross access to them.
Thom Tillis is no stranger to the diaspora. In April 2024, together with three other senators, he called for the release of Armenian prisoners to be made a condition of any Armenia–Azerbaijan peace deal.
Analysis
For the Armenian-American diaspora, this is a tactical win, not a substantive one. The hold does not target Washington’s policy towards Baku, which Donald Trump is in fact keen to warm up, notably around the TRIPP route. It freezes one specific nominee, contested over his business ties and his role in the Balkans. But the ANCA has managed to insert itself into the debate with a clear demand: making the release of Armenian prisoners a question put to any future ambassador in Baku. The new Democratic-led Senate in January will be more receptive.
Possible consequences
Barring an individual vote before early January, Alexander Alden’s nomination will be returned to the White House. Donald Trump will then have to resubmit it to a Democratic-majority Senate or choose another nominee.
