US President Donald Trump will host Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House this Friday, in a landmark event aiming to finalize a long-sought peace agreement between the two nations after decades of bitter conflict. Trump announced the “Peace Signing Ceremony” directly via his Truth Social platform on Thursday.
This significant US diplomatic effort follows Cambodia’s Prime Minister announcing Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination yesterday. Trump frequently highlights his own diplomatic achievements, insisting he deserves the prestigious award. He simultaneously expressed frustration over the unresolved Russia-Ukraine war and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Decades of Conflict Hang Heavy
Armenia and Azerbaijan remain sworn enemies despite numerous peace initiatives over many years, as the former Soviet republics fought two devastating wars over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan decisively reclaimed the territory during a swift 2023 military offensive, triggering over 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee their homes. Subsequent talks, including recent UAE negotiations, have consistently failed to produce a lasting breakthrough.
Trump emphasized the human cost, stating, “These two Nations have been at War for many years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people.” He further claimed, “Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now, thanks to ‘TRUMP.'” The president declared his administration engaged deeply with both sides for quite some time. Trump expressed immense pride in the leaders’ courage, calling Friday “a Historic Day for Armenia, Azerbaijan, the United States, and, THE WORLD.”
Constitutional Hurdles Remain Unclear
Washington also plans to sign bilateral economic agreements with both nations simultaneously, with the aim to unlock the South Caucasus region’s full potential through shared opportunities. However, significant obstacles persist despite a March agreement on the peace deal’s text. Azerbaijan subsequently outlined major demands, including requiring Armenia to amend its constitution and drop territorial claims on Karabakh. Observers questioned Thursday whether Armenia met these specific conditions before the signing.
Trump did not detail the exact document representatives will sign during Friday’s ceremony. Previous talks in July within the UAE yielded no resolution, mirroring earlier discussions on the sidelines of May’s Albania summit. Notably, European leaders Macron and Costa urgently called for a prompt peace agreement signature then.
A successful normalization deal would represent a major strategic shift in a critically important region, as Russia, the European Union, the United States, and Turkey all actively compete for influence across the South Caucasus. Therefore, achieving genuine peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan holds profound implications far beyond their borders. Friday’s White House ceremony offers a rare, tangible hope for ending this entrenched conflict.
