Historic Peace Agreement Between Azerbaijan and Armenia Announced at Trump-Led Summit

The peace deal, signed at the White House, aims to resolve the ongoing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and establishes a route for cooperation between the two nations, increasing US influence in the region while diminishing Russian roles in peace negotiations.

 

At a historic summit at the White House, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a comprehensive peace agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict between their nations. President Donald Trump, who hosted the leaders, referred to the event as "historic," and emphasized the importance of the agreement in reopening key transport routes and enhancing US influence in the volatile region of the Caucasus.

The longstanding disputes primarily center around Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan's borders. Both countries fought two significant wars over the territory in the late 20th century, with sporadic violence continuing over the years. At the summit, Trump announced that both leaders had pledged to cease all hostilities "forever," and look towards strengthening travel, business, and diplomatic ties. "We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus," proclaimed President Aliyev, while Pashinyan acknowledged the signing as a "significant milestone" in their bilateral relations.

The White House also disclosed plans for a major transit corridor, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave separated by Armenia. Historically, disputes over control of this corridor had stalled prior negotiations. Azerbaijan has previously threatened to utilize force to secure the links, underscoring the continued tensions surrounding the peace process.

Both leaders expressed gratitude towards Trump throughout their statements, with Aliyev asserting that "in six months, [Trump] did a miracle." In addition to the peace agreement, Trump signed bilateral accords with both nations to foster cooperation in energy and technology trade.

The implications of the summit suggest a shift in the balance of power in the region, as the United States aims to assert its influence over an area traditionally dominated by Russia. President Vladimir Putin has previously served as the chief mediator in the conflict, with the most recent agreement before this summit having been orchestrated by the Russian president himself. By opting for American-led negotiations, both Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders appear to have sidelined Russia's longstanding role in the peace process.

As global political dynamics evolve, this agreement represents a significant change in the approach towards a longstanding territorial and ethnic conflict, potentially ushering in a new era of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, underlying fears remain about the durability of peace, with some in Armenia expressing concerns about the risk of renewed conflict despite the optimistic rhetoric from the summit.