Trump hailed for 'miracle' Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal ending 35 years of conflict

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced on Friday, August 8, a historic peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House, where leaders of the two nations signed an agreement aimed at ending decades-old conflict.

The two South Caucasus countries signed agreements with each other and the United States that will reopen major transportation routes, allowing the US to capitalize on Russia’s declining influence in the region.

"It's a long time, 35 years, they fought, and now they're friends, and they're going to be friends for a long time," Trump said. 

Donald Trump announces 'historic' Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands after Donald Trump hailed the moment as “historic.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” Trump said of the agreement, which will reopen key transport routes between the nations and boost US influence in the region and end the conflict between the two nations over control of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said on Friday, "We are starting the path toward strategic partnership. We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation, and bloodshed and provide bright and safe future for our children. I’m very happy because today we are writing the great new history."

Moreover, Pashinyan called the agreement a "significant milestone."

"We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past," he mentioned.

Armenia and Azerbaijan 'promise' to stop fighting

Donald Trump said Armenia and Azerbaijan have promised to stop all fighting "forever" as well as open up travel, business, and diplomatic relations. The POTUS also said he was lifting restrictions on US military cooperation with Azerbaijan.

The deal between the two nations includes an agreement that will create a major transit corridor to be named the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity," the White House said.

The "Trump route" will link Azerbaijan with its autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, currently separated by Armenian territory.

Trump mentioned that he would like to visit the route at some point, and said, "We’re going to have to get over there."

Aliyev has previously insisted on a rail corridor to Nakhchivan, while Armenia has sought to retain control over the road. In the past, the Azerbaijani leader even threatened to seize the corridor by force, a sticky point that had repeatedly derailed earlier peace talks.

Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan date back to the late 1980s, when Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region within Azerbaijan but largely inhabited by ethnic Armenians, broke away with Armenia’s backing.

In 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control of the region through a military offensive, leading nearly all of its remaining 100,000 ethnic Armenian residents to flee to Armenia.

Interestingly, both leaders added that the breakthrough was possible by Trump and his team, joining a growing list of foreign leaders and other officials who have said the POTUS should receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

Aliyev said, "President Trump in six months did a miracle."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said on Friday, "The roadmap they are agreeing to will build a cooperative future that benefits both countries, their region of the South Caucasus and beyond."

She further said that the new transit corridor will "allow unimpeded connectivity between the two countries while respecting Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and its people."

Meanwhile, Trump added he was "very confident" when asked how he feels about lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Russia's waning influence in the South Caucasus

The agreement between the two former Soviet republics marks a setback for Russia’s geopolitical influence.

Since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, Moscow has acted as a de facto regional power in the South Caucasus.

However, its sway in the region has sharply declined in recent years, particularly as it remains heavily engaged in its war against Ukraine.

This power shift in the region opened the door for other players, including Turkey, the European Union, and the US, to expand their presence in the region, analysts told RFE/RL.

However, five years ago, the situation was very different.

Following a 44-day war in 2020 over Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian President Vladimir Putin stepped in to mediate a ceasefire, reaffirming Moscow’s role as the key power broker in the region.

Rauf Mirgadirov, an analyst with the Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper in Baku, called this truce brought about by Russia as  “a historic shift.”

“The two countries — after more than 30 years of conflict over Karabakh — are now closer to one another and distancing themselves from Russia,” he told RFE/RL.

“Both want to be free from Russian influence, and this is their opportunity, as Russia is very busy with the war in Ukraine.”

Donald Trump dubbed 'President Peace' as he announces Armenia-Azerbaijan peace accord

Several internet users praised Donald Trump as he announced a historic peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the White House, where leaders of the two nations signed an agreement to end decades-old conflict.

A user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "President Trump is doing more for world peace than any other foreign leader has ever done!" while one added, "The Peace President!"

A person stated, "It's finally nice to see our tax dollars at work.. Our Representatives working FOR the USA , The President actually working for the USA FIRST and globally for PEACE," whereas someone else mentioned, "Mount Rushmore soon!"

One more wrote, "Peacemaker of the Century!" while another tweeted, "President Peace does it again!"

An individual said, "Trump is the greatest advocate for peace in modern times," with one more saying, "The amount of love for our president is beautiful."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.