After almost 40 years of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan have made a historic peace agreement. The deal was signed in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President Donald Trump hosting the event.
This agreement officially ends the fighting and changes the political landscape in the South Caucasus. Russia, which has been a major influence in the area, was not involved in the peace talks.
On August 8, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the peace deal, announcing that the conflict was over.
“We are making peace today in the South Caucasus,” Aliyev said. “We are starting a new and better chapter in history.”
Pashinyan called the agreement “a new beginning,” hoping it would bring peace and a better future for both countries.
President Trump praised the deal as a big success. He said past efforts by the European Union and Russia to solve the conflict did not work. “Many suffered for years, but now we have made peace,” Trump said.
This peace deal came after Azerbaijan’s quick military victory in September 2023, when it took control of Karabakh. Since then, Armenia and Azerbaijan talked directly to reach an agreement without other countries interfering.
An important part of the deal is the creation of the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” This is a new road that will connect Azerbaijan’s main land with its Nakhchivan region through Armenian land. It will help trade and investment while respecting Armenia’s control over its territory.
The deal also removes Russia from the peace process. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to end the OSCE Minsk Group, which had been mediating the conflict since 1992. By signing the deal in the U.S., both countries show they want closer ties with the West instead of relying on Russia.
Russia reacted angrily to the deal. It started spreading false stories about Pashinyan and accused him of betraying Armenia. Russia also claimed there are secret U.S. labs in the region, similar to accusations made about Ukraine and Georgia.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Russia worsened after an investigation found that Russian air defense caused a passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan last December. President Aliyev said he will take the case to international courts, even if it takes many years.
The European Union welcomed the peace agreement. It said the deal offers a way to lasting peace and encouraged both countries to follow through with their promises.
This peace deal not only ends decades of war but also changes the power balance in the South Caucasus. Now, the United States plays the main role in keeping peace, replacing Russia.
