Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski

Zbigniew Brzezinski (1928–2017) was a Polish-American statesman, political scientist, and one of the most influential strategic thinkers of the modern era. He served as national security advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981, playing a central role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during a consequential period of the Cold War. In 1981, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to U.S. national security, human rights policy, and the normalization of relations with China.

Beyond government service, Dr. Brzezinski was a distinguished scholar and prolific author. He taught at Harvard and Columbia universities and later served as a professor of American foreign policy at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and as a counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His influential works—including The Grand Chessboard and Strategic Vision—examined American leadership, Eurasian geopolitics, and the changing international order.

Dr. Brzezinski was an early and prominent advocate for a strong, independent Azerbaijan and closer U.S.–Azerbaijan relations. He consistently emphasized Azerbaijan’s strategic importance and supported the development of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline as a means of strengthening the sovereignty and economic independence of Azerbaijan and the wider region. As a member of USACC’s Honorary Council of Advisors, he provided distinguished counsel and lent his voice and stature to the Chamber’s mission of advancing lasting commercial and strategic ties between the United States and Azerbaijan.