Trump Brokers Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Accord at White House Summit/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders met at the White House and signed a historic peace deal ending decades of conflict. Brokered by President Donald Trump, the agreement includes reopening transport routes and launching a new “Trump Route.” The deal also strengthens U.S. influence in the South Caucasus amid Russia’s waning presence.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement Quick Looks
- Historic handshake between Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House.
- Trump-brokered deal creates the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.”
- Transport corridor to link Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan through Armenian territory.
- U.S. capitalizes on Russia’s diminishing influence in the South Caucasus.
- Energy, technology, and trade cooperation agreements signed with the U.S.
- Conflict background: Nearly 40 years of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Geopolitical shift as Armenia moves closer to the West, distancing from Russia.
Trump Brokers Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Accord at White House Summit
Deep Look
In a symbolic moment marking the potential end to one of the longest-running post-Soviet conflicts, Armenia and Azerbaijan’s leaders shook hands Friday at the White House, sealing a historic peace agreement. President Donald Trump stood at the center of the handshake between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, signaling what the administration hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough.
The trilateral signing capped a summit focused on reopening transportation routes, bolstering regional commerce, and reshaping the South Caucasus’ geopolitical landscape. The agreement establishes the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity — a corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. This transport link will also integrate rail lines, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber optic connections, opening new economic and strategic pathways between the Caspian and Europe.
Trump expressed “great honor” at the route being named after him, clarifying that the suggestion came from Armenian officials. Known for his ambition to be recognized as a global peacemaker, the former president framed the deal as a “miracle” achieved in just six months, contrasting it with decades of failed mediation attempts. Both Aliyev and Pashinyan credited Trump’s leadership for bridging differences that had long stalled negotiations.
The corridor fulfills a key Azerbaijani demand, linking its main territory directly to Nakhchivan without detouring through Georgia or Iran. For Azerbaijan, a leading oil and gas exporter, the route offers a faster connection to Turkey and European markets. Armenia, in turn, gains economic opportunities and improved mobility, despite long-standing sovereignty concerns over the corridor.
The U.S. sees the agreement as a chance to expand its influence in the strategically vital South Caucasus, especially as Russia’s sway diminishes following its costly invasion of Ukraine. For decades, Moscow acted as the primary mediator between Yerevan and Baku, using the conflict to maintain leverage over both nations. Now, Armenia is moving away from Russian dependence, particularly after Moscow failed to intervene during Azerbaijan’s 2023 recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a crucial role in the early stages of negotiations, beginning direct talks with Aliyev in Baku earlier this year. According to U.S. officials, the plan was part of a “regional reset” strategy aimed at fostering cooperation not only between Armenia and Azerbaijan but also with Washington.
The White House confirmed that both countries also signed separate bilateral agreements with the United States to deepen cooperation in energy, technology, and trade. These pacts are intended to support long-term stability and economic development in the region. Negotiations over the Trump Route’s construction will begin in the coming days, with at least nine developers already showing interest.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict dates back nearly 40 years, centered on the Nagorno-Karabakh region — a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but historically populated by ethnic Armenians. The two nations have fought multiple wars, with tens of thousands killed. Attempts by the United Nations, the OSCE, and other mediators repeatedly failed to deliver lasting peace.
In 2023, Azerbaijan’s swift military operation reclaimed all of Karabakh, shifting the balance of power and accelerating peace talks. However, Baku’s insistence on a land bridge to Nakhchivan remained a sticking point. Armenia’s agreement this week reflects both its desire for normalized relations and the lure of closer economic and political ties with the United States.
Friday’s signing also feeds into Trump’s broader diplomatic portfolio. In recent months, he has been credited with helping secure a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda, mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and diffusing tensions between Cambodia and Thailand. Calls for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize have grown louder among international leaders, though conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine remain unresolved.
For Armenia and Azerbaijan, the deal marks a fresh chapter in a relationship scarred by decades of hostility.
As Trump put it, “Thirty-five years they fought, and now they’re friends — and they’re going to be friends a long time.”
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