Historic Peace Accord Between Azerbaijan and Armenia at White House Summit

At a summit hosted by President Donald Trump, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a peace deal intended to end longstanding hostilities, reopen transport routes, and enhance U.S. influence in the region, marking a significant shift in geopolitical dynamics.

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed an agreement aimed at resolving decades of conflict, with President Donald Trump hosting the historic summit at the White House. On Friday, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia shook hands, following Trump's declaration of the event as "historic."

Trump praised the agreement's significance, stating, "It's been a long time coming," and emphasizing the reopening of critical transport routes between the two countries as a step toward improved U.S. influence in the Caucasus. For over three decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been embroiled in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian region within Azerbaijani borders, with intermittent violence persisting since the 1990s.

The U.S. President asserted that both nations have vowed to cease hostilities "forever" while strengthening travel, business, and diplomatic channels. "We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus," Aliyev remarked, reflecting on the substantial losses endured due to years of conflict. Pashinyan characterized the signing as a "significant milestone" in their nations' relations, with Trump proclaiming, "Thirty-five years they fought, and now they're friends."

Among the deal's provisions is the U.S. commitment to develop a major transit corridor named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, designed to connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, currently separated by Armenian territory. While Aliyev has previously demanded access to a railroad corridor through Armenia, Pashinyan's administration sought to maintain control over this transportation route, which has historically stalled peace negotiations.

Throughout the meeting, both leaders expressed gratitude towards Trump, with Aliyev commenting that, "President Trump, in six months, did a miracle," indicating the rapid progress achieved in the negotiations. Trump also formalized a bilateral agreement to enhance energy and technology trade between the two countries.

This summit not only signifies a pivotal moment in Azerbaijani-Armenian relations but also marks a shift in regional power dynamics as the U.S. asserts its influence at the expense of Russia. Historically, the Kremlin has been a dominant power broker in the region, with President Vladimir Putin actively mediating past negotiations. The new agreement, however, represents a significant departure from Russian involvement, as both nations opted for an American-led resolution to their longstanding disputes.

The announcement comes just ahead of Trump's planned discussions with Putin in Alaska next week, further elaborating the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Southern Caucasus and beyond. Despite these optimistic developments, there remain fears within Armenia regarding the potential for renewed conflict, highlighting the complex nuances of peace in regions fraught with historical animosities.