United States-mediated ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan met with optimism, yet underpinned by wariness
Headline: US-Brokered Peace Agreement Reshapes South Caucasus, Brings Mixed Reactions
The US-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed in 2025, marked a significant turning point in the South Caucasus region. The accord, which ended decades of hostility, established a strategic transit corridor known as the Zangezur corridor or the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).
This 27-mile (43 km) long corridor connects Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan and Turkey, bypassing Iran and Russia. Under Armenian sovereignty, the corridor will be developed exclusively by the US for 99 years, with Armenia granting the US exclusive special development rights. The corridor is intended to carry rail, oil, gas, fiber optic, and potentially electricity transmission lines.
The agreement also includes bilateral economic deals, unlocking potential for trade, transit, energy, infrastructure, and technology cooperation involving the US, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Furthermore, the accord addresses humanitarian and political issues, including provisions related to hostages, refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, and recognition of sovereignty concerns, aiming to normalize relations and end decades of conflict.
The implications of this deal are profound. It marks a major strategic shift in the South Caucasus, weakening the traditional influence of Russia and Iran by establishing a US-led transit corridor that bypasses these countries, thus altering regional power dynamics. Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan positions this as a pivot toward the West and a move to guarantee security and stability after more than three decades of conflict. However, this comes at the risk of internal political backlash and criticism from the Armenian diaspora for perceived compromises on sovereignty and the unresolved status of Armenian POWs and Artsakh residents.
Azerbaijan strengthens its ties with Turkey through this direct land link, enhancing economic and strategic integration with a key regional partner and NATO ally. Although Russia welcomed the peace process positively, it warned that US involvement should support—not complicate—regional stability, reflecting concerns about diminishing Moscow's influence. Iran expressed security concerns and threatened to block the corridor, highlighting regional tensions due to the bypassing of its territory and perceived encirclement by US-backed infrastructure.
However, leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed the deal offers benefits to Iran and Russia as well, pointing to potential railway connections allowing Iran access from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea via the region. The agreement does not constitute a formal peace treaty, but it represents a significant diplomatic step toward normalization of relations.
Reactions to the agreement vary widely. While some, like Abulfat Jafarov in Baku, express gratitude for the steps taken toward progress, others, like Ruzanna Ghazaryan in Yerevan, are skeptical that peace can be achieved and express discontent with the terms of the agreement. The agreement does not bring real peace to the region, according to Ruzanna Ghazaryan in Yerevan. The agreement does not clarify all aspects, as stated by Edvard Avoyan in Yerevan.
Despite these uncertainties, some, like Hrach Ghasumyan in Yerevan, see potential economic benefits from gas and oil pipelines passing through Armenia and opened railway routes. A resident of Baku, Gunduz Aliyev, expressed hope that the US will bring peace and stability to the region. The agreement remains a significant diplomatic achievement, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus and introducing complex sovereignty and security questions, regional resistance, and internal Armenian political challenges.
Sources:
- Al-Monitor. (2025, August). US-brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal: What's in it?
- BBC News. (2025, August). Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal: What does it mean?
- The Washington Post. (2025, August). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign US-brokered peace agreement
- The Guardian. (2025, August). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign US-brokered peace deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Reuters. (2025, August). Armenia and Azerbaijan sign US-brokered peace deal to end Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- The strategic transit corridor, known as the Zangezur corridor or the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is a topic of interest in the world news, as it carries the potential for rail, oil, gas, fiber optic, and electricity transmission lines.
- The agreement, signed in 2025, has repercussions that extend beyond the South Caucasus, as it alters regional power dynamics by weakening the traditional influence of Russia and Iran, and introduces complex sovereignty and security questions.
- The agreement, while bringing economic benefits to some, such as the increased potential for gas and oil pipelines passing through Armenia and opened railway routes, is met with skepticism and discontent by others, who question its ability to bring real peace to the region and express concerns about internal political challenges and diminishing sovereignty.
