On August 8, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Washington under the auspices of U.S. President Donald Trump and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) expressing their shared intent to resolve long-standing disputes between the two countries. This document does not constitute a formal peace agreement; rather, it serves as a statement of intent to work toward a comprehensive peace treaty in the future.
The most notable element of the memorandum is the proposed transit corridor known as the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” This route will connect mainland Azerbaijan to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the Turkish border via Armenian territory. Operated under Armenian sovereignty, the corridor will be managed for 99 years by an international consortium led by the United States. The project is expected to strengthen Azerbaijan’s logistical integration by providing a direct land link to Türkiye, while offering Armenia integration into trade networks, economic diversification, and opportunities to attract foreign investment.
This development is viewed as an important stage in the normalization process that began after Azerbaijan regained full control of Karabakh in 2023. The MOU has the potential to reduce military tensions in the South Caucasus and enhance regional economic cooperation. U.S. officials have stated that the corridor would “provide seamless connectivity between the two countries while respecting Armenia’s sovereignty.”
Türkiye welcomed the memorandum, described it as a historic opportunity for regional peace and stability, and reaffirmed its support for Azerbaijan’s efforts. Russia, through Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, stated that it supports the process and expects Moscow’s views to be taken into account in the final settlement; it also stressed that it does not want new tensions in the Caucasus due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the memorandum as “an important opportunity for regional stability” and emphasized the need to respect the sovereignty of all parties.
This step by the relevant countries should be seen as a strong example of diplomacy, economic cooperation, and confidence-building measures coming together. Achieving lasting peace will require not only signed documents but also the continuation of political will by leaders, the timely and transparent completion of projects, and the strengthening of trust between societies.