Azerbaijan and Armenia took a significant step towards peace as President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan inked a landmark agreement at the White House, with President Donald Trump playing the role of mediator on Friday. This momentous occasion was branded as "historic" by Trump, who noted it had been a long time coming, and emphasized the goal of reopening crucial transport routes between the two countries.
For decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been entangled in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian territory within Azerbaijan, leading to violence that flared up repeatedly from the 1980s. Trump stated that both countries have pledged to cease all hostilities "forever" while fostering travel, trade, and diplomatic exchanges.
Aliyev expressed a sense of renewal: "We lost many years to war and bloodshed." Similarly, Pashinyan labeled the signing as a "significant milestone" in their nations' history. Trump highlighted the transformation from adversaries to friends, promising an enduring friendship.
A key element of the deal involves the U.S. constructing a vital corridor—dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—connecting Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan exclave separated by Armenian land. Control over this route had previously stalled peace talks, but now both nations seem ready to cooperate.
Throughout the discussions, both leaders commended Trump for his role in achieving what they called a "miracle" in just six months. The U.S. will also expand energy and technology trade agreements with both countries, marking a strategic shift in regional influence away from Russia, which had historically been the main peacemaker in the conflict.
As the agreement unfolded, Trump announced an upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign of the changing dynamics in the region as U.S. involvement increases. The world watches and hopes that this time, the prospect of peace will be more than just a fleeting dream.
For decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been entangled in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian territory within Azerbaijan, leading to violence that flared up repeatedly from the 1980s. Trump stated that both countries have pledged to cease all hostilities "forever" while fostering travel, trade, and diplomatic exchanges.
Aliyev expressed a sense of renewal: "We lost many years to war and bloodshed." Similarly, Pashinyan labeled the signing as a "significant milestone" in their nations' history. Trump highlighted the transformation from adversaries to friends, promising an enduring friendship.
A key element of the deal involves the U.S. constructing a vital corridor—dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity—connecting Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan exclave separated by Armenian land. Control over this route had previously stalled peace talks, but now both nations seem ready to cooperate.
Throughout the discussions, both leaders commended Trump for his role in achieving what they called a "miracle" in just six months. The U.S. will also expand energy and technology trade agreements with both countries, marking a strategic shift in regional influence away from Russia, which had historically been the main peacemaker in the conflict.
As the agreement unfolded, Trump announced an upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a sign of the changing dynamics in the region as U.S. involvement increases. The world watches and hopes that this time, the prospect of peace will be more than just a fleeting dream.
