Washington: The United States, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have celebrated substantial progress toward achieving lasting peace in the South Caucasus, marking a year since the pivotal summit hosted by former US President Donald Trump at the White House.
According to Anadolu Agency, in a joint statement released on the anniversary of the August 2025 summit, the three nations hailed the event as a turning point that 'ended decades of conflict' and set the region 'on a path towards a more prosperous future.' The statement emphasized that 'True peace is never achieved in just one day,' and praised the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia as a model for global peace initiatives.
The statement highlighted the stability maintained along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, with both nations taking proactive steps to normalize relations, delineate borders, and foster confidence. It also emphasized the progress on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a multimodal transit corridor through Armenia that aims to connect Azerbaijan with regional and international trade routes.
In a significant development, the countries have committed to the construction of an electricity transmission line along this corridor. The United States announced a grant of $201 million to the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund to boost private-sector investment in the Middle Corridor, enhancing connectivity between Central Asia and the South Caucasus.
The statement also underscored the strengthening of US ties with Armenia and Azerbaijan. New agreements have been forged, covering strategic partnerships, energy security, border infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductor innovation, and critical minerals.
Baku's lifting of transit restrictions involving Armenia was another significant milestone, facilitating the transportation of 60,000 tons of goods to and from Armenia through Azerbaijan over the past year. Additionally, Azerbaijan supplied Armenia with 20,000 tons of oil products.
The statement also noted an agreement between Armenian and Azerbaijani telecom operators to diversify regional internet connectivity and bolster telecommunications infrastructure.
Furthermore, Armenia and Azerbaijan have joined the Board of Peace, an international coalition dedicated to achieving lasting peace and reconstruction in Gaza, at the invitation of the US. The commitment to 'the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction' of both countries within their internationally recognized borders was also reaffirmed.
The statement comes a year after the historic White House summit, where Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a joint declaration on peace. In recognition of their efforts, Aliyev and Pashinyan have jointly nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The three countries expressed their determination to build on the progress made over the past year, with the statement quoting Trump as saying, 'Promises made, promises kept.'