A New Chapter in the Caucasus: Trump's Peace Deal Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
President Donald Trump has made headlines once again by facilitating a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two nations locked in a decades-long conflict. The deal was announced on Friday during a trilateral ceremony at the White House, where Trump expressed confidence in the future relationship between the two countries. "I think they're going to have a great relationship, I have no doubt. And if you don't, call me and I'll straighten it out," he said, maintaining his characteristic tone of self-assurance.
The talks that led to this agreement began in February, with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff playing a key role. Witkoff traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan, meeting with President Ilham Aliyev and other local leaders. This diplomatic effort culminated in the historic peace deal, marking a significant shift in the region's long-standing tensions.
Despite Trump's previous campaign promises to end wars in Gaza and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, these conflicts remain unresolved. However, the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal provided an opportunity for Trump to highlight a rare success. He subtly referenced his predecessor, saying, "Sleepy Joe Biden tried but you know what happened there, he probably tried for maybe 12 minutes but it didn't work out."
Both Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev publicly thanked Trump for his efforts. They even suggested that he should be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. Pashinyan stated, "I think President Trump deserves to have the Nobel Peace Prize and we will defend that and promote that, that's obvious." Aliyev added, "Maybe we agree with Prime Minister Pashinyan to send a joint appeal to the Nobel committee to award President Trump with the Nobel Peace Prize," which drew applause from the audience.
However, Trump downplayed the possibility of receiving the honor, saying, "A lot of people say, no matter what I did, because I'm of a certain persuasion, no matter what I do they won't give it [to me.] I'm not politicking for it." He also alluded to past controversial winners of the prize, possibly referencing former President Barack Obama, who received the award in 2009.
The peace deal includes several notable provisions. Following the recent escalation of conflict in 2023, when Azerbaijan regained control over Nagorno-Karabakh—a region of mostly ethnic Armenians that had been autonomous since the 1980s—over 100,000 Armenians fled to Armenia. The new agreement aims to resolve ongoing disputes over the Zangezur Corridor, with Armenia granting the United States exclusive development rights on the land for 99 years.
This transit corridor, named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), will be managed by the U.S., allowing for infrastructure development such as rail, oil, gas, fiber optic lines, and electricity transmission. The initiative is seen as a strategic move that could boost regional trade and connectivity.
Trump has long positioned himself as a global peacemaker, having negotiated deals in various regions, including Cambodia and Thailand, Rwanda and the Congo, and Pakistan and India. He also claimed to have ended the war between Israel and Iran through missile strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In June, he asserted that he had prevented a potential war between Kosovo and Serbia, stating that both sides were on the verge of conflict until he intervened.
Despite these claims, Trump's ability to deliver on his broader promises of global peace remains uncertain. The war between Russia and Ukraine continues, and he has expressed hope that talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could lead to a resolution. "We're getting close," he said, indicating that progress is still being pursued.
As the international community watches closely, the impact of Trump's latest diplomatic achievement remains to be seen. Whether this peace deal will hold or if it marks a turning point in the region's history is yet to be determined.