The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a peace agreement aimed at ending a long-standing conflict. The summit took place at the White House on Friday, hosted by President Donald Trump.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands after signing the deal. President Trump called the moment “historic.”
“This agreement has been a long time coming,” Trump said. He added it would reopen key transport routes and increase US influence in the region.
Background of the conflict
The conflict involves Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnically Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan. Fighting began in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, there have been occasional flare-ups of violence.
Trump said Armenia and Azerbaijan had promised to stop all fighting “forever.” They also agreed to open travel, business, and diplomatic ties.
“We are today establishing peace in the Caucasus,” Aliyev said. “We lost many years due to war, occupation, and bloodshed.”
Pashinyan described the agreement as a “significant milestone” in their relations.
Strategic importance and international influence
The White House said the deal includes US support to build a major transit corridor. It will link Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, which is separated by Armenian territory.
Aliyev had previously demanded a railway corridor through Armenia to connect with Nakhchivan. This issue stalled earlier peace talks. Armenia wanted control of the road, while Azerbaijan threatened to secure it by force.
Both leaders praised President Trump’s role in the talks. “President Trump achieved a remarkable outcome in six months,” Aliyev said.
Trump also announced agreements to expand energy and technology trade with both countries.
This summit shows a shift in influence in the region. Russia has long been the main power broker. President Vladimir Putin acted as mediator in previous talks, including the last deal between Aliyev and Pashinyan.
With the new US-led agreement, Russia’s role is reduced. Both countries chose an American solution over Moscow’s proposals.
The announcement came just before Trump said he would meet Putin in Alaska the following week.
