Diplomatic Meeting between Trump and Armenia-Azerbaijan dubbed as "Peace Summit"
In a groundbreaking development, Armenia and Azerbaijan have reached a landmark peace agreement, marking the end of nearly four decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The agreement was signed at a peace summit hosted by former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on August 8, 2025.
Background
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, an ethnic and territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and its Armenian population, began in the late 1980s. Intense military conflicts occurred throughout the 1990s, with a ceasefire established in 1994 but no final peace deal. A major flare-up happened in 2020, which ended in a Russia-brokered ceasefire in November 2020. Azerbaijan regained significant territory, including parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. In September 2023, Azerbaijan completed a military campaign to fully reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh.
Key Developments Leading to the 2025 Agreement
Following Azerbaijan's full control of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, Armenia and Azerbaijan began normalization talks. Key developments included Armenia agreeing to hand over four border villages to Azerbaijan in April 2024, and committing to hold a constitutional referendum by 2027 to amend the preamble, addressing one of Azerbaijan’s key grievances. Negotiations also touched on the controversial Zangezur Corridor, a transportation link through southern Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave.
The 2025 Peace Agreement
The agreement commits Armenia and Azerbaijan to ending all fighting forever and initiating full normalization of relations. The United States gains exclusive development rights to a transport corridor through Armenia that links Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan. Russia, traditionally a key mediator and peacekeeper, welcomed the agreement but cautioned against further outside intervention. Turkey views the deal as a positive advance for South Caucasus stability.
Current Status and Challenges
Despite the historic signing, Armenian and Azerbaijani public opinion remains mixed, with concerns over security, sovereignty, and the implementation of corridor agreements. Armenia faces political challenges internally, especially concerning territorial concessions and constitutional changes. The status of third-party monitors, particularly EU border monitors, remains contentious, with Azerbaijan demanding their removal. The arrangement puts the United States in a more central role in the peace process, contrasting with previous Russian-led efforts.
In summary, the peace agreement signed at the White House peace summit represents a significant step towards resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The agreement includes sensitive territorial and transit arrangements with significant regional geopolitical implications, involving the U.S., Russia, Turkey, and neighboring countries. The peace process continues to face challenges, particularly in terms of public opinion, implementation, and monitoring.
- This historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed at the White House in August 2025, comes after years of political negotiations and war-and-conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a dispute dating back to the late 1980s.
- The extensive negotiations leading to the 2025 agreement have been influenced by general-news events such as Armenia agreeing to hand over four border villages to Azerbaijan in April 2024 and committing to hold a constitutional referendum by 2027, addressing one of Azerbaijan's key grievances.
