Historic Peace Framework Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Opens New Era

In a watershed moment for the South Caucasus, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a preliminary peace framework agreement in Washington on August 8, 2025. The US-mediated deal marks the first time a Western actor has successfully brokered negotiations between these rivals.

The framework establishes a roadmap for ending a conflict that predates independence from the Soviet Union. Officials expect a final peace treaty by the end of 2026.

The agreement includes provisions for the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), linking Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, and Turkey. This infrastructure project will facilitate trade, transit, and technology exchange.

Both nations signed bilateral economic agreements with the US. The peace framework received international endorsement, with Pope Leo XIV offering congratulations and Georgia welcoming the new era of regional stability.