Trump to Host Peace Talks Between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump is set to host peace talks in Washington this week between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a renewed effort to stabilize the South Caucasus region.
The talks were confirmed on Wednesday by Pashinyan’s press secretary, Nazeli Baghdasaryan, who announced on Facebook that the Armenian leader will visit the United States on Thursday and Friday. During his stay, Pashinyan is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Trump. Baghdasaryan stated that the trilateral talks aim to “promote peace, prosperity, and economic cooperation in the region.”
Her announcement follows a Washington Post report that cited two senior White House officials confirming the talks will take place at the White House on Friday. The report also raised the possibility that the meeting could result in a formal peace agreement between the two neighbors.
Azerbaijan has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the meeting or responded to the Armenian announcement.
Aliyev and Pashinyan last met in Abu Dhabi last month, where they discussed normalization efforts and agreed to continue negotiations and confidence-building measures. Trump previously expressed optimism about the talks, stating in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that efforts toward a peace deal were “moving toward a successful conclusion.”
Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan date back to 1991, when Armenian forces occupied Karabakh and surrounding territories. Azerbaijan regained most of the region during the 44-day war in 2020, which ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire.
In September 2023, Baku reestablished full control over Karabakh after separatist forces surrendered. By March of this year, both countries announced they had reached a consensus on all 17 articles of a proposed peace agreement, though the deal has yet to be signed.
