The US-based VSE Corp., in Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded a $10,082,812 firm-fixed-price contract for the delivery of counterterrorism and intelligence equipment, and in-country training in support of the Azerbaijan Maritime Security Program for the Caspian Sea, reported Urdupoint. The contract is for the government of Azerbaijan under the US Foreign Military Sales program, according to the release.

The VSE Corporation is a diversified technical services company formed in 1959. The company is a U.S. government contractor that provides engineering, logistics support, supply chain management, sustainment, foreign military sales, management sciences, information technology, energy and environment support, and facilities management.

The Caspian Sea is an area of security concerns for the United States. The US has been conducting a variety of programs to assist the littoral states (except Iran) in combating the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking. This support includes the Second Line of Defence program and its Mega-ports Initiative and the Caspian Sea Maritime Interdiction. Another US-initiated programme by the US was Caspian Guard Initiative, which was designed to coordinate activities in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan with those of U.S. Central Command and other U.S government agencies to enhance Caspian Sea security.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov visited Washington in June, where he met with the former US National Security Adviser John Bolton. The two officials discussed bilateral economic ties, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and opportunities for further diversification of gas supplies to Europe, according to Azerbaijan's foreign ministry. As the U.S. has ratcheted up diplomatic and military pressure on Iran, it has been quietly offering neighboring Azerbaijan more than $100 million in military aid. The money appears aimed at countering threats from Tehran, reported Eurasianet.org earlier this year.