US President Donald Trump stated that after thirty-five years of conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia have now become “friends,” assuring that their friendship will last. Speaking at the peace summit at the White House, which was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trump emphasized the importance of the agreement, which, although not a peace treaty, marks a significant step towards stability in the South Caucasus, reports Baltimore Chronicle, citing European Pravda.
The declaration signed in Washington outlines the main principles of the peace process between the two countries, but a full peace agreement is still ahead. The US is not only acting as a mediator but also as a guarantor of the agreement, which adds credibility to the implementation of the reached agreements. According to Trump, this process is an example of successful peacekeeping diplomacy by the United States, focusing on supporting economic prosperity through the guarantee of peace.
The agreement, which emerged after the Third Karabakh War, became possible due to a change in the geopolitical situation in the region. Azerbaijan regained control over all internationally recognized territory, which created an opportunity for Armenia to reconsider its foreign policy priorities and seek to free itself from dependence on Russia. However, Baku did not rush to sign the peace agreement, as it was important for them to obtain concessions from Yerevan, particularly regarding the “Zangezur Corridor,” an important transit route for Azerbaijan.
The compromises reached, including the involvement of an international company to manage the transit, allowed for the realization of both countries’ strategic interests. As a result of this process, the project “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) was established, which is meant to become a platform for further stability in the region. A key element of this project is the guarantee for Armenia’s sovereignty while ensuring Azerbaijan’s access to Nakhchivan through Armenian territory.
It is known that the declaration signed in the White House also records Armenia’s concessions regarding transit through the Zangezur Corridor, which, according to many analysts, is a significant step towards normalizing relations. However, for Armenia, issues concerning prisoners of war and the future status of Karabakh remain unresolved. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has received clear guarantees from the US to lift restrictions on defense cooperation, which is the result of years of diplomatic efforts.
The signing of the declaration was also a major success for the United States, as after this, both countries agreed to approach the OSCE to request the completion of the work of the Minsk Group, which has been involved in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. At the same time, for Russia, this is a significant blow to its influence in the region, as it has lost its role as a mediator between Azerbaijan and Armenia, a role now taken by the United States. This development not only deprives Moscow of control over important strategic issues but also calls into question its role in the peacekeeping process in the South Caucasus.
Earlier we wrote that Putin and Trump to meet in the coming days: venue confirmed.