Washington Summit Heralds New Era for Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations, Igniting Regional Debate

US President Donald Trump

Washington D.C. – A historic peace summit convened at the White House on August 8, 2025, witnessed Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan initial a peace agreement text in the presence of US President Donald Trump. 

The event, hailed as a significant step towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus, included the signing of a joint declaration outlining key provisions, most notably the establishment of the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP). The declaration confirms the importance of finalising and ratifying a peace agreement between the two nations and includes an agreement for the cessation of activities by the OSCE Minsk Group and related structures. Key Outcomes of the Washington Declaration: 

TRIPP Route Established: The newly named "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), previously known in Azerbaijan as the "Zangezur Corridor," will provide unimpeded access between Azerbaijan's main territory and its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia. The declaration explicitly states that this route will preserve Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction. The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that Armenia will maintain passport and customs control over the route, with its state institutions ensuring security.

US Involvement in TRIPP: The agreement specifies that the Armenian section of the TRIPP route will be managed by an American consortium for a duration of 99 years, with a possibility of extension. Armenia views this US involvement and potential investments as a new component of its security and a means to raise its international rating. 

Lifting of Amendment 907: The US government announced the suspension of the 907th Amendment to the Freedom Support Act, which had prohibited direct US assistance to Azerbaijan since the 1990s. President Aliyev described this as a symbolic gesture of significant political meaning, noting that the Biden administration had reinstated these sanctions, unlike previous US presidents. 

Economic Cooperation: The United States also signed bilateral agreements with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to explore joint economic opportunities, particularly in trade, energy, and technology, including artificial intelligence. President Aliyev noted that a strategic working group has been created to draft a bilateral Strategic Partnership Charter with the US, covering areas like mutual investment, energy, transport, and defence. Reactions from Key Players: 

US President Donald Trump described the summit as a "historic day" for Armenia, Azerbaijan, the US, and the world, expressing pride in the "courageous leaders" for taking steps towards peace after decades of conflict. He believes this agreement enables both nations to "live and work together". 

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the initiation of the peace treaty at the White House signifies that "lasting peace has already come to our region". He thanked President Trump for bringing peace to the Caucasus and for lifting the military aid ban. Aliyev also highlighted that Azerbaijan, having resolved the Karabakh conflict by military-political means, initiated the peace treaty process based on five principles. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the event "historic," suggesting Armenia is "opening up" and will gain railway links with the entire world, expecting billions in revenue and enhanced security from TRIPP. He stressed that Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity would be fully respected, including customs and passport controls. He attributed the success to the US's active engagement and understanding of Armenia's fundamental principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. 

The Georgian Government welcomed the agreement as a "historic moment" for the region, paving the way for sustainable peace and development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili commended the US and President Trump for their efforts. 

Turkish Foreign Ministry referred to the agreement as a "historic opportunity for peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus". 

NATO praised the progress towards normalisation and thanked President Trump for his investment in peace. 

The European Union and the OSCE also welcomed the paraffing, viewing it as a significant step towards peace and stability. The Council of Europe urged both countries to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as part of their peace efforts. Concerns and Remaining Challenges: Despite the initial optimism, various experts and regional actors have raised concerns: 

Peace Not Yet Fully Achieved: Political commentator Rauf Mirqədirov believes that while the communication lines are a positive outcome, "peace has not yet been brought to the region" with this document, and vital questions regarding the security threats to South Caucasian republics, including Georgia, remain unresolved. 

Armenian Constitutional Changes: A significant hurdle for the full signing of the peace treaty is Azerbaijan's demand for changes to the Armenian constitution, which Baku views as containing territorial claims against Azerbaijan. This process could take until 2027 and is seen as a potential obstacle to peace. 

Ambiguity of TRIPP Operation: Concerns persist regarding the operational details of the TRIPP route, including rules, regulations, and border opening procedures. Former Armenian diplomat Edmon Marukyan expressed "great concern" that President Aliyev's co-signing of the TRIPP agreement transforms Azerbaijan into an interested party in a communication line on Armenian territory, which he views as unconstitutional for Armenia and potentially implies unimpeded passage without Armenian border or customs control. • Russia and Iran's Reservations: While Russia generally assessed the Washington meeting as "positive" and hopeful for advancing peace, it underscored that solutions for the South Caucasus should primarily involve regional countries and direct neighbours like Russia, Iran, and Turkey, cautioning against external interference. Iran's President Pezeşkian stated the TRIPP agreement meets Iran's territorial integrity and connectivity requirements but voiced "the only concern is the desire of Armenian and American companies to build this road". Iran's Supreme Leader's advisor, Ali Akbar Velayati, went further, stating Iran would prevent an American corridor in the Caucasus, viewing it as a security threat that could alter the region's geopolitical map, fragment Armenia, and limit Iran's access.

Georgia's Diminished Role: Some Georgian opposition figures, like former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and diplomat Giorgi Badrіdze, expressed unease that Georgia might be missing an opportunity and becoming isolated. Badrіdze argued that Georgia is losing its strategic importance as Armenia and Azerbaijan develop direct economic ties with the West, bypassing Georgia due to the current Georgian government's "self-neutralisation" from international processes. There are also fears that Russia could exploit this situation to destabilise the South Caucasus, potentially using Georgia as a factor against Armenia or Azerbaijan.