Azerbaijan-Armenia Sign US-Backed Peace Deal Ending Decades Conflict

The recent White House meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and U.S. President Donald Trump resulted in a historic peace agreement ending decades of conflict in the Caucasus region, which has long been marred by war and geopolitical competition. This agreement has been praised as a triumph of the America First approach and Trump’s leadership, with Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Ali Asadov emphasizing the elevation of Azerbaijan-U.S. relations to a strategic partnership and the establishment of a framework for lasting regional peace. A key component of the agreement is the acknowledgment of the Zangezur Corridor, which will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a point previously contested but now accepted by Armenia. The repeal of the U.S. 907 amendment, which had restricted aid to Azerbaijan, marks a new era of cooperation and is expected to enhance bilateral relations and energy sector collaboration between the two countries. The peace deal is seen as a significant geopolitical shift, reducing the influence of Russia and Iran in the region and opening up new economic and transport opportunities. The symbolic gestures of respect shown by President Trump, including presenting the key to the White House to President Aliyev, underscore the importance the U.S. places on this diplomatic breakthrough and on Aliyev’s leadership.