Washington, August 9(HS): In a breakthrough aimed at ending decades of hostilities, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Friday signed a historic peace agreement at the White House, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan pledged to halt fighting “forever,” reopen key transport links, and restore diplomatic and trade relations. Central to the deal is the construction of a transit corridor linking Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory — to be named the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.”

The two nations, long at odds over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, have experienced repeated violence since the late 1980s. The corridor issue previously stalled peace efforts, but Trump’s mediation brought both sides to agreement within six months.

Aliyev called the accord a chance to move past years of “wars, occupation and bloodshed,” while Pashinyan hailed it as a “significant milestone.” The U.S. also signed bilateral deals with both countries to boost energy and technology trade.

The agreement marks a shift in regional diplomacy, sidelining Russia’s role as chief mediator. Trump’s success underscores Washington’s growing influence in the Caucasus. The announcement came ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar