Another victory for Trump: Armenia and Azerbaijan sign historic peace agreement
Photo: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev (Getty Images)
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have signed a historic peace agreement between their countries. The mediation was provided by US President Donald Trump, according to the broadcast of the signing ceremony.
What the agreement is about
Today, August 8, several documents were signed in Washington, the key one being a bilateral framework agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Its text consists of 17 provisions and remains confidential for now, but some details are already known. The document is aimed at normalizing relations between the countries through mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and also envisions the development of economic cooperation.
An important element of the agreement is the creation of a transit route through the Zangezur corridor, which will connect the main territory of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave. According to media reports, the agreement includes provisions for both parties to renounce international claims and a ban on the deployment of third-country troops along the shared border.
Other points, previously reported in the media of both countries, concern the demarcation of the border line, prisoner exchanges, and the implementation of measures to support refugees and internally displaced persons. Thus, the document is intended to serve as a comprehensive foundation for resolving the long-standing conflict and establishing cooperation between the two countries.
What is known about the conflict between the countries
The confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been ongoing since the collapse of the USSR, when Nagorno-Karabakh effectively slipped out of Baku’s control and came under the influence of Yerevan.
In September 2023, as a result of its anti-terrorist operation, Azerbaijan took full control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Before that, the majority of Nagorno-Karabakh’s population were ethnic Armenians, who left the territory en masse after the end of the fighting.
Later, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan officially recognized Azerbaijan’s territory of 86,600 square kilometers, which also includes Nagorno-Karabakh.
As a result, Azerbaijan and Armenia managed to agree on a ceasefire. The parties are now discussing the possibility of a peace agreement. The text of the agreement had been agreed upon earlier.
What Trump and the US have to do with it
US President Donald Trump was interested in the signing of the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is already known that following the signing, restrictions on military cooperation with Azerbaijan will be lifted.
"Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Trump said during a joint briefing with Pashinyan and Aliyev.
For a detailed look at how Trump is trying to end not only the Russia-Ukraine war but also other conflicts around the world, read the material by RBC-Ukraine.
