WASHINGTON, D.C. (BN24) — After nearly four decades of bitter conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan formally ended hostilities Friday by signing a historic peace agreement in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal signals a dramatic geopolitical shift in the South Caucasus, sidelining Russia as the dominant regional power broker.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan inked the accord on August 8, 2025, officially declaring a ceasefire and pledging to build a peaceful future. “We are today establishing peace in the South Caucasus,” Aliyev said. “Today we are writing a great new history.” Pashinyan echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement “opening a chapter of peace” and a foundation for “a better story than the one we had in the past.”
Trump hailed the deal as a “historic success,” highlighting the failure of prior mediators, including the European Union and Russia, to resolve the long-standing dispute. “They suffered greatly for so many years… but with this accord, we finally succeeded in making peace,” Trump said.
The breakthrough follows Azerbaijan’s rapid military campaign in September 2023, which restored Baku’s control over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Over the past year, the two nations engaged in direct negotiations without third-party mediation, culminating in Friday’s signing in the U.S. capital.
A cornerstone of the agreement is the establishment of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” a transit corridor connecting Azerbaijan’s mainland to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. Operated under Armenian law, the corridor is expected to enhance trade, attract investment, and strengthen regional connectivity while respecting Armenian sovereignty.
The accord marks a clear pivot away from Moscow’s influence. Both countries agreed to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group, which was created in 1992 to mediate the Karabakh conflict. By signing the agreement alongside the U.S. president, Armenia and Azerbaijan underscore their shift toward Western engagement and reduced dependence on Russian mediation.
Russia has responded with hostility, launching disinformation campaigns against Pashinyan and accusing him of compromising Armenian sovereignty. Moscow has revived baseless claims about U.S.-run bioweapons labs in the region, mirroring similar narratives it has deployed against Ukraine and Georgia.
Relations between Baku and Moscow have also deteriorated after an investigation found that Russian air defense fire caused an Azerbaijani passenger jet crash in Kazakhstan last December. Aliyev vowed to pursue justice through international courts, even if it takes “10 years” to achieve.
The European Union welcomed the peace agreement, calling it “a path to lasting, sustainable peace,” and urged both nations to implement the accord’s provisions to normalize relations fully.
This landmark signing not only ends a decades-long war but also reshapes the balance of power in the South Caucasus, positioning the United States as the central peacekeeper in the region.
Credit: BBC
