Washington: United States President Donald Trump hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House on Friday, where the two leaders signed a landmark peace agreement aimed at ending decades of hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh. The accord marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough in the South Caucasus, with Washington taking the lead role in mediation.
The agreement establishes mutual recognition of territorial integrity and commits both nations to the normalization of diplomatic relations. A central feature of the deal is the creation of a U.S.-brokered transit corridor known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). The corridor will connect Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan through Armenian territory, allowing for increased regional trade and energy exports. Under the agreement, the United States will have exclusive development rights for the corridor, signaling its long-term strategic involvement in the region.
Beyond territorial arrangements, the peace package includes new bilateral accords on defense cooperation, energy development, technology exchange, and expanded economic partnerships. Analysts see the deal as a shift in the balance of influence in the South Caucasus, reducing Russia’s historical role as the primary mediator between the two nations.
The European Union welcomed the signing and called for swift ratification and implementation of the treaty, stressing the need for stability and regional development. However, not all reactions have been positive. Members of the Armenian-American community in Southern California expressed concerns over the absence of provisions that would allow displaced Armenians to return to Nagorno-Karabakh. Human rights advocates also cautioned that Azerbaijan’s record on political freedoms and treatment of detainees would need ongoing monitoring to ensure lasting peace.
Despite such reservations, the signing represents one of the most significant diplomatic achievements in the conflict’s long history. Observers note that the success of the agreement will depend on sustained U.S. engagement, the careful management of ethnic and political tensions, and tangible economic benefits reaching communities on both sides. The next steps will involve ratification by both countries’ parliaments, the launch of corridor construction, and the gradual implementation of joint economic projects.
If successfully implemented, the agreement could transform the geopolitical and economic landscape of the South Caucasus, replacing decades of conflict with a new chapter of cooperation.