In a remarkable diplomatic achievement, President Donald Trump brokered a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday. The Oval Office setting witnessed the leaders of the two nations, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, signing a declaration that promises a cessation of hostilities and the opening of economic and diplomatic channels.
The peace deal arrives as a significant development following decades of animosity and conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The region, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but populated primarily by ethnic Armenians, has been a flashpoint since the early 1990s, leading to intermittent warfare and instability in the South Caucasus.
Under the terms of the agreement facilitated by Trump, Armenia will provide the United States with rights to establish a transit corridor through the South Caucasus. This corridor, which will be named after President Trump, is of strategic significance, bridging Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The deal also entails the lifting of U.S. restrictions on aid and defense cooperation with Azerbaijan, which have been in place since 1992.
President Aliyev lauded the agreement as a momentous opportunity to foster a new chapter in relations with the U.S., while Prime Minister Pashinyan highlighted the deal's potential to end decades of conflict and usher in an era of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This peace agreement adds to President Trump's growing list of foreign policy accomplishments, including mediation efforts in conflicts between Pakistan and India, Cambodia and Thailand, and a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. He is also engaged in negotiations to conclude the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The historical context of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is deeply rooted, with Nagorno-Karabakh being an ancestral home for Armenians. However, recent military actions by Azerbaijan raised tensions, leading to a blockade and a military offensive in September 2023 that prompted allegations of ethnic cleansing and forced many Armenians to flee.
The peace declaration is seen as a testament to Trump's role as a global leader and peacemaker, a status echoed by both Pashinyan and Aliyev during the joint press conference. The White House tweeted a statement by President Trump, celebrating the success of the Accord in achieving peace after 35 years of unsuccessful attempts by others.
Editor's Note: Both leaders have or are in process of nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
