South Caucasus on the Brink of Harmony?
A Historic Breakthrough: The Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement
In August 2025, a significant milestone was reached as the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement was signed in Washington, marking the resolution of a long-standing conflict, particularly over the strategic Zangezur corridor, also known as the Syunik corridor by Armenians. The agreement was formalized at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in attendance.
A key aspect of the peace deal is the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a 43-kilometer corridor that grants the United States exclusive development rights for 99 years in the Zangezur region. The U.S. will develop infrastructure including railways, oil and gas pipelines, fiber-optic cables, and potentially electricity transmission lines, establishing a transit route connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan and the wider Central Asian region via Turkey, bypassing Iran and Russia.
The geopolitical implications of this agreement are far-reaching:
- Reducing Iranian and Russian influence: The corridor constrains Iran’s sole land border access with Armenia and diminishes Moscow’s traditional regional dominance in the South Caucasus.
- Strengthening Turkish regional hegemony: The corridor enhances Azerbaijan’s direct ties to Turkey, cementing Ankara’s growing influence at Russia’s expense.
- U.S. strategic presence: The TRIPP symbolizes U.S. dominance in a key energy and transit hub, with potential long-term geopolitical and economic benefits for Washington.
However, not everyone is pleased with the agreement. Iran has expressed security concerns and threatened to block the corridor, wary of U.S. and Turkish influence reducing its regional leverage. Russia's role is diminished but not entirely excluded from the peace dynamics, although Moscow's ability to influence outcomes is clearly challenged. The security arrangements for the corridor post-Trump presidency remain uncertain, raising questions on long-term guarantees of U.S. involvement and regional stability.
In Armenia, the agreement is controversially debated, with some, like Vartan Oskanian, believing it threatens Armenian security and regional stability. On the other hand, supporters like Aram Sargsyan see the peace agreement as a guarantee against future Armenian-Azerbaijani wars.
In conclusion, the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement brokered in Washington and anchored by the TRIPP corridor represents a significant realignment of South Caucasus geopolitics, enhancing U.S. and Turkish influence while reducing Iran’s and Russia’s roles. However, regional security and diplomatic challenges persist, particularly regarding Iran's opposition and future U.S. engagement.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement, marked by the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), has significant ramifications for regional politics, as it potentially reduces Iranian and Russian influence while strengthening Turkey's position. This agreement, however, is not without controversy, with some voicing concerns about its impact on Armenian security and stability in general-news, war-and-conflicts, and politics.
