Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 8th August 2025, 12:32 PM
US President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan this Friday for what he describes as a “Historic Peace Summit”, aiming to formally end a decades-long conflict between the two former Soviet republics.
The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev are expected to attend an official Peace Signing Ceremony at the White House, as announced by Trump via his Truth Social platform on Thursday.
“These two nations have been at war for many years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people,” Trump wrote.
“Many leaders have tried to end the war, with no success — until now, thanks to ‘TRUMP.’”
Background: A Long-standing Conflict
| Key Conflict Area | Nagorno-Karabakh |
| Past Wars | Two major wars over territorial claims |
| Latest Escalation | 2023 Azerbaijani offensive that led to Armenia’s loss of the region |
| Humanitarian Impact | Over 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced |
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but historically populated by ethnic Armenians, has flared up repeatedly since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2023, Azerbaijan reclaimed control of the region in a swift military operation, prompting a mass exodus.
Peace Process Timeline
| Date | Event |
| March 2025 | Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on the text of a peace deal |
| May 2025 | Leaders met at the European Political Community summit in Albania |
| July 2025 | Latest round of talks held in the United Arab Emirates – no breakthrough |
| August 2025 | Peace Signing scheduled at the White House hosted by President Trump |
Despite prior agreements, Baku has demanded constitutional changes from Yerevan, including dropping any territorial claims to Karabakh, before finalising the peace deal. It remains unclear whether Armenia has accepted these conditions ahead of Friday’s ceremony.
Economic Angle: South Caucasus Development
President Trump also revealed that bilateral economic agreements will be signed alongside the peace deal to “fully unlock the potential of the South Caucasus Region.”
One such agreement, signed Thursday in Washington, includes a memorandum of cooperation between ExxonMobil and Azerbaijan’s state energy giant SOCAR, witnessed by President Aliyev and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
| Partnership Signed | ExxonMobil – SOCAR |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Representatives Present | President Ilham Aliyev & Envoy Steve Witkoff |
| Focus | Energy cooperation in the South Caucasus region |
Following the signing, Aliyev and Witkoff also held bilateral talks, furthering the spirit of collaboration between the parties.
A Bid for Legacy
President Trump, known for his ambitious diplomatic initiatives, has framed this summit as a defining moment of his international leadership.
“Friday will be a historic day for Armenia, Azerbaijan, the United States — and the world,” he declared. “See you then!”
While Trump did not disclose the full content of the peace agreement, the symbolic and geopolitical significance of bringing two bitter adversaries to the negotiation table in Washington is being seen as a major diplomatic coup for the United States.
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