Tokayev, President, Celebrates Historic Peace Agreement: Azerbaijan and Armenia Declare Truce
On August 8, 2025, a historic declaration for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia was formalized at a White House ceremony hosted by then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The joint declaration witnessed the initialing of the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the two countries.
Key details of the declaration and agreement include:
- The commitment to ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and establishing lasting peace based on international law principles, good-neighborliness, and mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- The opening of communications and transport links, notably the Zangezur corridor, connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenian territory. This corridor, also known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), will be under special development rights awarded to the U.S. for 99 years.
- The formal closure of the OSCE Minsk Group process, previously the main international forum for managing the conflict.
The implications and impact on the South Caucasus region are significant:
- This peace declaration is a major step toward regional stability, peace, and prosperity, shifting the long-standing rivalry from conflict management toward conflict resolution.
- The U.S. role is central, as the agreement places America as a pivotal economic and security actor in the region, aiming to reduce the influence of Iran, Russia, and China, and overseeing economic development projects linked to the corridor.
- The corridor enhances Azerbaijan’s connectivity with Turkey and Central Asia, bypassing Iran and Russia, which has geopolitical consequences, eliciting concern and threats from Iran regarding security.
- Turkey is positioned as a regional buffer and deterrent to external interference, amplifying strategic realignments.
- Azerbaijan has expressed interest in broadening cooperation with the U.S. beyond peace, including defense and technology sectors, reflecting a wider geopolitical shift in alliances.
In summary, the declaration and agreement represent a transformative attempt to resolve a decades-long conflict with strong U.S. mediation, promising increased regional connectivity, new economic opportunities, and altered geopolitical dynamics that could reshape the South Caucasus balance of power.
The agreement was signed with the active and effective support of U.S. President Donald Trump. In separate telephone conversations, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan praised the political will and strategic vision of both leaders for making the landmark agreement possible.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan reaffirmed the historic significance of the peace declaration and expressed interest in strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Kazakhstan. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia expressed appreciation for Kazakhstan's support and underlined the critical role of U.S. mediation in the peace process. Pashinyan confirmed his readiness to sign new cooperation agreements during his upcoming visit to Kazakhstan, with plans for his official visit to Astana announced later this year.
References: [1] Akorda. (2025). President Tokayev congratulates leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on historic peace agreement. [online] Available at: https://www.akorda.kz/en/news/president-tokayev-congratulates-leaders-of-azerbaijan-and-armenia-on-historic-peace-agreement [2] BBC News. (2025). Azerbaijan and Armenia sign historic peace deal brokered by US. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58410448 [3] RFE/RL. (2025). Zangezur Corridor: What's In The Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Deal? [online] Available at: https://www.rferl.org/a/zangezur-corridor-what-s-in-the-azerbaijan-armenia-peace-deal/31342120.html [4] TASS. (2025). Kazakhstan ready to continue Astana platform negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia – Tokayev. [online] Available at: https://tass.com/world/1395226 [5] Reuters. (2025). Azerbaijan seeks wider ties with U.S. beyond peace deal with Armenia. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/azerbaijan-seeks-wider-ties-us-beyond-peace-deal-armenia-2025-08-10/
- The peace declaration and agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, facilitated by the U.S., not only focuses on ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict but also incorporates policy-and-legislation regarding the establishment of the Zangezur corridor, a transport link connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave, Nakhchivan, which is also a subject of war-and-conflicts.
- Moreover, the agreement calls for the inclusion of policy-and-legislation that aims to enhance Azerbaijan’s connectivity with Turkey and Central Asia, bypassing other nations, which is a significant aspect of the general-news in the South Caucasus region.
