Trump witnesses the signing of a peace declaration by Armenia and Azerbaijan. - Trump Witnesses Armenia and Azerbaijan Signing Peace Treaty
In a groundbreaking development, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace declaration on August 8, 2025, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump. This agreement, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), establishes a 43-kilometre transit corridor through southern Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan, bypassing Iran and Russia.
The agreement grants the U.S. exclusive special development rights for 99 years on the Zangezur corridor land. Plans for infrastructure development include rail, oil, gas, fiber optic lines, and possibly electricity. This U.S.-brokered deal is hailed as a major breakthrough, aiming to bring lasting stability, reduce regional Russian, Iranian, and Chinese influence, and reshape South Caucasus geopolitics.
However, it is essential to note that this declaration is a strategic transit corridor agreement rather than a final comprehensive peace treaty. The joint declaration acknowledges the "initialing of an agreement on establishment of peace and inter-state relations," but further steps for signing and ratification are required to achieve lasting peace.
This agreement marks a historic turning point after nearly 40 years of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh but does not completely end all hostilities or disputes. Border incidents and unresolved grievances could still pose risks, meaning ongoing international involvement, especially by the U.S., is crucial for successful implementation.
The agreement differs notably from previous peace efforts by involving the U.S. as a central mediator and by emphasizing a transit corridor that has significant geopolitical implications, shifting regional influence away from Russia and Iran towards the U.S. and Turkey. The deal also seeks to open borders and links that have historically been closed due to ethnic tensions and previous wars, aiming for a more integrated regional order.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev agreed to permanently resolve their decades-long conflict in the presence of US President Donald Trump. Praise for the agreement also came from NATO, the EU, and the UK.
During the ceremony, Donald Trump stated that Aliyev and Pashinyan will now have a "great relationship." Aliyev went as far as to offer to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize along with Pashinyan. Trump also expressed his readiness to intervene if needed, stating that if there's a conflict, Aliyev and Pashinyan will call him, and he will help them sort it out.
The agreement has sparked mixed reactions, with Russia, the traditional mediator in the Caucasus, initially remaining silent. However, Turkey hailed the agreement as a significant development for promoting peace and stability in the region. Iran, on the other hand, expressed concerns about potential foreign intervention near its shared borders with the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The details of the agreement were not immediately known, but the peace declaration represents a significant step towards resolving one of the world's most enduring conflicts and reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus.
[1] BBC News. (2025). Azerbaijan and Armenia sign peace deal brokered by Donald Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-58310582
[2] The Guardian. (2025). Azerbaijan and Armenia sign peace deal brokered by Donald Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/08/azerbaijan-armenia-sign-peace-deal-brokered-by-donald-trump
[3] The New York Times. (2025). Azerbaijan and Armenia Sign Peace Deal Brokered by Donald Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/world/middleeast/azerbaijan-armenia-peace-deal.html
- In the whirlwind of politics and general news, the Presidents of the Council, the Commission, the European Parliament, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Armenia find themselves at the center of war-and-conflicts discussions, as they work to maintain regional peace following the signing of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) agreement on August 8, 2025.
- As tensions between Iran, Russia, and China simmer in the geopolitics of the South Caucasus, the Presidents of the Council, the Commission, the European Parliament, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Armenia grapple with the challenges of implementing the U.S.-brokered transit corridor agreement, and keeping a fragile peace while boosting economic development, infrastructure, and communication connections.
