Armenia, the leaders in Azerbaijan, welcomes Trump’s participation in the “historic” peace agreement

In exclusive interviews with Fox News Digital, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the president in Azerbaijani Ilham Aliyev described a peace agreement at the United States arrest as a “historic” opportunity to end more than three decades of conflict and launch a new era of cooperation in southern Caucasus.

Speaking separately, the two leaders credited former President Donald Trump and the American special envoy Steve Witkoff for guiding months of negotiations that produced the framework agreement.

They described the plans for trade, infrastructure and investments while recognizing that the main political and humanitarian problems may still have to be resolved before the finalization of the agreement.

Trump to welcome Armenia, the Azerbaijani leaders before peace as a price for peace of the White House

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev described a peace agreement in the United States background as a “historic” opportunity to end more than three decades of conflict-and launch a new era of cooperation in the South Caucasus. (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)

Competing opinions on constitutional changes

Aliyev declared that the agreement cannot be officially signed until Armenia has changed its constitution, which, according to him, always questions Azerbaijani sovereignty.

“It’s a bit like their homework,” said Aliyev. “As soon as this is done … The final peace agreement is signed.”

Pashinyan rejected this condition, insisting that Armenia is already determined to respect territorial integrity and has “no territorial complaints” towards any neighbor. He confirmed that his government writes a new constitution but described it as “internal problem” unrelated to the conditions of peace.

Economic cooperation and Tripp corridor

A central pillar of the agreement is the creation of the “Tripp corridor” or Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a route of transport and commerce designed to link Armenia and Azerbaijan more directly while integrating the South Caucasus into international networks and wider energy networks.

Aliyev described the project as “one of the important parties of international transport”, saying that it would connect the Caspian Sea region to the markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The corridor should transport goods, energy supplies and potentially serve as a railway center for inter-regional trade.

Pashinyan described the agreement to open communications “on the basis of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity and internationally recognized borders” as a breakthrough.

“Now we are de facto peace … it’s time to have common investment projects, to have economic cooperation,” he said. “The involvement of the United States will make this story even more attractive for potential investors.”

Pashinyan described the agreement to open communications “on the basis of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity and internationally recognized borders” as a breakthrough. (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)

Humanitarian issues remain

The status of refugees and prisoners of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unstable. Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the region after Azerbaijan resumed control in the 2020 war and a military operation in 2023. Many have resettled in Armenia, but disputes continue on the right of return, complaints of property and the fate of persons detained during and after the fighting.

Azerbaijan argues that the prisoners of his guard are combatants or saboteurs, while Armenia and international human rights groups describe a lot as political prisoners. Pashinyan warned that the increase in “very sensitive problems” could risk too risking rekindling tensions.

“The question of refugees is important, but we must focus on signing the peace agreement … To permanently sting very sensitive problems could rekindle the conflict, you know, and I think it is very important now for Armenia and Azerbaijan to focus on the implementation of what has already been agreed.”

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“It was only President Trump … Immediately he jumped into the (peace) process,” said Aliyev, adding that if Trump had remained in office after the 2020 elections, “probably what we live today … (would have taken place) earlier.” (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)

Praise for Trump, Biden critic

Aliyev welcomed Trump’s direct participation in the peace process and criticized what he called the unjust representations of Azerbaijan under the Biden administration. He underlined the cooperation of Azerbaijan with American military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and said that Trump’s return to active diplomacy made the current breakthrough possible.

“It was only President Trump … Immediately he jumped into the (peace) process,” said Aliyev, adding that if Trump had remained in office after the 2020 elections, “probably what we live today … (would have taken place) earlier.”

White House ceremony and regional significance

Interviews occurred a few hours after Pashinyan and Aliyev joined Trump at the White House to announce the agreement – a rare moment of public unity in a region long defined by war, blockages and distrust.

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Although the framework opens the way to standardized relations, the two leaders have recognized that decades of hostility will not disappear overnight. “It is not possible to change everything for a day, a week or even a year,” said Pashinyan. “But it is a very brilliant expression of what we want – the two leaders, President Aliyev and myself – we want to change this whole situation.”

For Trump, the event marked a very publicized example of its realizations of realization on the world scene. For Armenia and Azerbaijan, it was a step towards a future that says they are ready to build – if the remaining disputes can be resolved.