Trump to convene a three-way diplomatic conference with Azerbaijan and Armenia, aiming for peaceful negotiations.
The South Caucasus region is witnessing a significant shift towards peace and prosperity following a historic U.S.-brokered agreement signed on August 8, 2025, between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The landmark deal, which includes a comprehensive peace agreement and a seven-point joint declaration, marks a monumental step forward in resolving the long-standing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.
The agreement, signed by the leaders of both countries in Washington, D.C., under the auspices of U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to establish a framework for resolving the disputed territories, promote peace, and foster economic cooperation. A key component of the agreement is the strategic transit corridor named the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), which connects Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia. The U.S. has been granted 99-year development rights and will oversee infrastructure projects such as railways, energy, and fiber optics to facilitate uninterrupted trade linking Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Central Asia, bypassing Iran and Russia.
The peace treaty draft, initially agreed upon in March 2025, was published following the Washington meeting and is now moving towards ratification. Although the process may require constitutional amendments in Armenia and is expected to take at least a year for full normalization, both countries’ foreign ministers and leaders have engaged in numerous diplomatic calls with international counterparts, indicating ongoing efforts to implement and secure broader international support.
Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The war ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that opened the door to normalization and demarcation talks. In September 2021, Azerbaijan established full sovereignty in Karabakh after separatist forces in the region surrendered.
The international community, including figures like Pope Francis, has encouraged peace and ceasefire efforts over the past years, highlighting the humanitarian necessity of ending hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, regional tensions persist, with Iran expressing concerns and threatening to block the new transit corridor, citing security reasons.
Prior to the Washington meeting, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev held a meeting in Abu Dhabi last month to discuss efforts to normalize their countries' relations and agreed to continue negotiations and confidence-building measures. The progress made in these talks has been significant, with both countries reaching a consensus on all 17 articles of a peace deal, though the deal has yet to be signed.
The peace talks in Washington are a testament to the commitment of the U.S., Armenia, and Azerbaijan to fostering peace, prosperity, and economic cooperation in the region. The normalization process is underway but will require sustained diplomatic and legislative efforts to be finalized. As the world watches, the South Caucasus region is on the brink of a new era, one that promises to usher in a more peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected future.
[1] The Washington Post, "U.S.-brokered deal aims to end decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan," August 8, 2025. [2] Reuters, "Armenia and Azerbaijan agree on peace deal draft, ratification process begins," March 2025. [3] The New York Times, "Azerbaijan Regains Control of Nagorno-Karabakh," September 2021. [4] CNN, "U.S. to oversee infrastructure projects in new Azerbaijan-Armenia transit corridor," August 8, 2025. [5] BBC News, "Pope Francis calls for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," various dates.
- The Washington Post-brokered agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing politics and general news, marks a significant transition in the South Caucasus region, aiming to establish peace, promote economic cooperation, and resolve disputed territories, following years of war-and-conflicts.
- As the ratification process of the Washington Post-brokered peace treaty begins, both countries are engaging in continual diplomatic efforts to secure international support and resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, while regional politics draw attention from international figures like Pope Francis.
