WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has brokered a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, ending decades of conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In a meeting at the White House, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, with President Trump signing as a witness.
Speaking at a joint press conference, President Trump said both countries had been on the brink of a major war, but agreed to focus on trade and economic cooperation instead. “I told them: no fighting, do business. They assured me they will not go to war,” Trump said, adding that future cooperation will include technology and AI deals. He also announced the lifting of military cooperation restrictions on Azerbaijan.
Calling it a “historic day,” President Aliyev said the agreement had opened a new path to peace and marked the start of a strategic partnership with the United States. Prime Minister Pashinyan praised Trump’s efforts for peace around the world.
In response to a question, President Trump said he would soon meet with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, noting that the ongoing war there was causing heavy casualties.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since the late 1980s. The six-year war ended in 1994 with Armenia controlling most of the territory. In 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured parts of the region, and in October 2023 launched another operation that led to the disarmament of separatist forces and their agreement to dissolve their government and join Azerbaijan.
