On Friday, 8th August 2025, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with President Trump at the White House to sign a seven-point joint declaration and to initiate the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations. The agreements consist of a peace deal draft, expressing the intention of both countries to reach an end to the nearly four-year- long ongoing conflict, marking a pivotal first step on a long path of peace negotiations. The main part of the seven-point deal establishes the project of a corridor through Armenia, connecting the main part of Azerbaijan with another part of its territory, to be known as the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP). Both Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to grant to the U.S. Government exclusive development rights of the Zangezur corridor, provoking mixed international reactions. For Turkey, the corridor would provide a direct route with Azerbaijan, leading to an increase in trade of oil and gas production. Russia, which for the first time remains excluded from peace negotiations, expresses concerns about foreign interference in the area. Furthermore, Iran condemns the TRIPP corridor, which would be directly adjacent to its border, ultimately cutting its access to Armenia and “jeopardizing its security.”

During the meeting, President Trump stated: “For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations… Many tried to find a resolution… and they were unsuccessful. With this Accord, we’ve finally succeeded in making peace.” President Aliyev followed by expressing his gratitude to President Trump, highlighting that within several months, he managed to put an end to several conflicts. Prime Minister Pashinyan echoed his sentiments by stating the importance of the reached draft, which will lay the foundations for a better future. Moreover, both leaders have underlined that further steps are needed to officially sign the agreement, emphasizing the urgency of reaching peace.

The draft of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations is undoubtedly a positive step toward ending decades of violence, and it demonstrates the commitment of both governments to pursue dialogue rather than armed confrontation. However, as history shows, the path forward remains uncertain. In the past, multiple agreements between the two conflicting nations, though promising on paper, have failed to resolve the conflict. Additionally, there are still many obstacles still need to be overcome. Notably, Russia and Iran have expressed concerns over the increasing influence of the US in the area established by the creation of the TRIPP corridor.

The conflict between the two countries began in the late 1980s. As the Soviet Union began to collapse, Azerbaijan moved to gain its independence. In particular, the long-running dispute is about the Nagorno-Karabakh region, mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, which in 1991 declared its independence from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched an attack to regain this land, killing over 6,500 people. A peace deal was previously brokered by Russia and maintained by its forces until 2023, when Azerbaijan took back full control of the region, forcing 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict caused numerous casualties, estimated between 28,000 and 38,000 from 1988 to 2023, and resulted in the displacement of roughly 724,000 Azerbaijanis, and up to 500,000 Armenians.

In order for the peaceful terms to be persistent, efficient, and long-term, there needs to be strong diplomatic collaboration and dialogue. The assistance of a third neutral mediator turned out to be a key asset during this last meeting. The United States must remain committed to resisting short-term gains in favour of lasting peace. Nevertheless, the recent record of Trump’s foreign policy tends to place U.S. national interest above broader international stability, which could undermine the progress made by the two nations working to resolve long-standing conflict. However, with the right efforts, this peace agreement draft has the potential to transform the South Caucasus region into a successful economic and diplomatic cooperation area.