President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House on Friday to announce a historic peace pact between the two former Soviet republics. This will mark the first time a formal agreement has been signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The meeting will take place in both the Oval Office and the State Dining Room, signaling the significance of the event. U.S. officials view the pact as a key step toward stabilizing the South Caucasus region and strengthening economic partnerships, particularly in energy transit.
Trump Route Corridor Boosts Trade, Bypasses Russia Amid Fragile Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process
One notable aspect of the deal is Armenia’s planned announcement granting the U.S. development rights to a 43-kilometer corridor called the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” This corridor is designed to boost Western access and trade, bypassing traditional routes through Iran and Russia.
The United States has been quietly mediating the peace process for several months, with broader strategic interests in deepening influence in the region and enhancing non-Russian energy transit routes, especially amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has spanned over 30 years, with the latest major escalation occurring in 2023 when Azerbaijan launched a military offensive that forced tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee.
Although a ceasefire was established in September 2023 and a peace treaty was drafted by March 2024, finalizing the deal has proven difficult. Negotiations in Abu Dhabi in July failed to produce an agreement, highlighting the fragile nature of peace efforts and the complex geopolitical interests at play.
Trump Eyes Nobel as U.S. Envoys Push Peace and Expand Abraham Accords Diplomacy
Key figures in the peace effort include Steve Witkoff, a U.S. special envoy who visited Baku in March, and Aryeh Lightstone, formerly of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute. The Trump administration has made it clear that Azerbaijan’s inclusion in the Abraham Accords peace framework between Israel and several Arab nations depends on resolving its dispute with Armenia.
Although no formal announcement about joining the accords is expected on Friday, both envoys will attend the summit, signaling ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement.
Sources suggest President Trump is privately eyeing a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in this and other international peace initiatives. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated it’s “well past time” for such recognition. Trump has cited various peace efforts under his watch, including de-escalations in South Asia and Central Africa.
As tensions persist globally, including between Russia and Ukraine, the White House also continues to explore a potential Trump-Putin summit, positioning this peace announcement as part of a broader strategy of conflict resolution and global diplomacy.
