Trump to Host Landmark Peace Summit Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump announced today that he will convene a peace summit at the white House this Friday, bringing together Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The meeting aims to finalize a lasting peace agreement between the two nations, ending decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
President Trump stated that the summit will also witness the signing of bilateral economic agreements between the United States and both Armenia and Azerbaijan. He emphasized the past significance of the event, claiming previous administrations failed to achieve a breakthrough.
“These two Nations have been at War for many years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now, thanks to ‘TRUMP.’ My Administration has been engaged with both sides for quite some time,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday. “It will be a Historic day for Armenia, Azerbaijan, the United States, and, THE WORLD. See you then!”
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but largely populated by ethnic Armenians, has been a source of tension as the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Major clashes occurred in 2016 and again in 2020, resulting in significant casualties and displacement.The 2020 conflict saw Azerbaijan make substantial territorial gains, leading to a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
This summit follows months of shuttle diplomacy led by U.S. officials, including National Security Advisor jake Sullivan, who visited both Yerevan and Baku in recent weeks. The U.S. has been actively encouraging a negotiated settlement based on mutual recognition and respect for sovereignty. The European Union, through President Charles Michel, has also been involved in mediation efforts.
Details of the proposed peace agreement remain confidential, but sources suggest it will address the status of Nagorno-karabakh, security guarantees for the Armenian population, and the establishment of clear borders. The economic agreements are expected to focus on energy cooperation,infrastructure progress,and trade.
-ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh
Background: The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
The roots of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict trace back to the late Soviet era. In 1923,the region was designated as an autonomous oblast within Azerbaijan,despite its majority Armenian population. As the Soviet Union weakened in the late 1980s, tensions escalated, with the Armenian population seeking unification with Armenia.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a full-scale war erupted in the early 1990s, resulting in Armenian control over Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories. This led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis. Ceasefire agreements were signed in 1994, but a lasting peace remained elusive. The region remained a de facto independent republic, unrecognized by any UN member state, including armenia.
The 2020 war dramatically altered the balance of power.Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, utilized advanced military technology to regain significant territory. The ceasefire brokered by Russia left Azerbaijan in control of much of the former conflict zone and deployed Russian peacekeepers to the remaining Armenian-populated areas.