Former US Generals Act as Advisers in Azerbaijan: The Controversial Investigation by The Washington Post

Former generals of the United States Air Force have worked as advisers in Azerbaijan, according to a detailed report by the prominent American publication The Washington Post.

The extensive article provides insights into the controversial connections between two retired American generals and the Aliyev administration. It notes that during the peak of the war in Afghanistan, Pentagon officials persuaded Ilham Aliyev to open Azerbaijan's borders and airspace for US and NATO supply routes to Afghanistan. In exchange, Washington promised Aliyev closer diplomatic cooperation and $369 million in defense contracts to Silk Way Airlines, an Azerbaijani cargo carrier reportedly controlled by the government.

Two US Air Force generals, Duncan McNabb and William Fraser, who were responsible for supply routes from 2008 to 2014, later sought to solidify their connections in Azerbaijan. After retirement, the senior generals secured lucrative consulting deals with Silk Way Airlines. Under the terms of the agreement, each could earn $5,000 per day.

The American media highlights that the Pentagon and the State Department typically allow retired military personnel to work for foreign governments or companies controlled by foreign governments. However, in Azerbaijan's case, the US military had objections, one of which was a risk to national security, as referenced in documents cited by the article.

According to the article, the contentious issue ultimately sparked a prolonged internal struggle between the retired generals and R. Philip DeVelly, a lawyer for the civil air forces, who was concerned that deals between American military personnel and Azerbaijan could lead to a scandal.

The newspaper reports that the Air Force sought to suppress the publicity of the dispute for an extended period. Between 2016 and 2021, the publication submitted four requests for clarification on the issue, but the military either denied or claimed to not be able to find any documents.

Ultimately, a court ruled in favor of the newspaper's request, mandating the US Air Force to release documents totaling 400 pages. The Washington Post notes that these documents reveal in unusual detail how the two senior American military officers attempted to benefit from diplomatic relations established during wartime, as well as the Pentagon's attempts to monitor this behavior.

Journalists who reviewed the transcripts indicate that intelligence officials from the Air Force opposed the Azerbaijani business deals, although the underlying reasons remain confidential. Meanwhile, lawyer DeVelly raised ethical concerns, warning his superiors against doing anything that might prompt Congress or the media to question the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars through Silk Way, which were designated exclusively for national security needs.

Despite internal disagreements, the retired generals pressured Air Force officials to approve their consulting contracts. According to one document from 2015, General Fraser stated that if Washington hindered him from working with the Azerbaijani airline, it would face a "retaliatory strike" from Aliyev’s administration, suggesting that Baku could even block US and NATO supply routes to Afghanistan in response.

Under US regulations, retired military personnel must obtain federal approval to work in other countries if the inviting company is partially or fully owned by any government. McNabb did not apply for such permission, arguing that the Azerbaijani company was not government-owned. However, Fraser secured federal approval before accepting a job.

When asked if he was aware that one of the shareholders of Silk Way Airlines is noted to be a daughter of Ilham Aliyev, the retired general claimed that this was a media fabrication.

The Washington Post cites a 2010 investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which indicated that one of the owners of Silk Way Bank is Aliyev's daughter. Moreover, the connection between the generals and the Aliyev administration, along with the absence of official approval for such dealings, became the subject of an investigation concluded by the Air Force Inspector General's office in 2015. Investigators found that the general violated the law by failing to seek permission to work for a foreign government. As a penalty, his military pension was reduced.