In the mountainous city of Vanadzor, Armenia, a stunning sunset masks the turbulent reality facing this small, ancient nation. Last week in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for talks aimed at ending one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.
Despite the headline-grabbing announcement, no true peace treaty was signed. Instead, three separate agreements emerged from the summit symbolic steps toward peace, but far from a resolution.
Three Key Agreements But No Peace Deal
Dissolving an Ineffective Peace Body
Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to withdraw from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) framework that was originally designed to mediate between the two nations. Over time, it became largely ineffective, failing to prevent repeated clashes.U.S.–Armenia Infrastructure Pact
Armenia and the United States signed an agreement to jointly develop a transport route across southern Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to its isolated Nakhchivan exclave. This 29-mile corridor could eventually include a highway, railway, and oil pipeline, granting Baku direct access to Turkey and Western energy markets.Framework for Future Negotiations
Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum to begin discussions on a potential peace deal. However, Azerbaijan’s demands—such as constitutional changes in Armenia remain politically sensitive and highly unlikely in the near term.
A Corridor of Opportunity or Vulnerability
Azerbaijan has long sought a direct route between its mainland and Nakhchivan. For Baku, the corridor promises a strategic energy export path to the West, bypassing Russian and Iranian routes. For Armenia, the project is divisive. Some see it as an economic opportunity to benefit from transit fees and potential normalization with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Others view it as a dangerous concession to a hostile neighbor.
Critics point out that the agreement fails to address two pressing humanitarian issues:
The displacement of over 150,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, following a swift Azerbaijani offensive.
The continued detention of around 80 Armenian hostages in Azerbaijani prisons, despite international concern.
