After decades of conflict, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a historic peace agreement at the White House, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough. The deal, brokered by the United States, aims to end hostilities and pave the way for a new era of cooperation in the South Caucasus region.
The agreement, signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, includes a provision for a major transit corridor to be named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” This route will connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which is separated by a strip of Armenian territory. The deal also includes separate bilateral agreements with the U.S. to boost cooperation in energy, technology, and the economy. Both leaders credited President Trump for the breakthrough, with President Aliyev stating that “President Trump in six months did a miracle.”
This new agreement challenges Russia’s traditional role as a mediator in the region, a position it has held for decades. The deal is seen by many as a geopolitical shift, capitalizing on Russia’s waning influence, particularly following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In a move that underscores the change in regional dynamics, the documents signed by the two countries include a request to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group, which had been mediating the conflict since the 1990s but is now deemed irrelevant by the White House.
The peace deal addresses a long-standing conflict that has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of a million people over the past 35 years. Most recently, Azerbaijan fully reclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region in a swift military action in September 2023, leading to the flight of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians to Armenia. The new agreement is intended to provide a foundation for a more stable future, allowing for the reopening of key transportation routes and fostering new economic opportunities for both nations.