US, Armenia and Azerbaijan Mark First Anniversary of White House Peace Summit

Baku, The Gulf Observer: The United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a joint statement marking the first anniversary of the historic White House peace summit, reaffirming their commitment to consolidating peace, strengthening regional stability and unlocking the economic potential of the South Caucasus.

According to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the joint statement commemorates the summit hosted by US President Donald Trump one year ago, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a Joint Declaration on peace. In the presence of the three leaders, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan also initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the two countries.

The statement described the summit as a landmark moment that helped bring an end to decades of conflict and established a foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus. In recognition of their efforts to advance peace, President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan jointly nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The three countries highlighted several developments achieved during the year, including the maintenance of stability along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and concrete measures aimed at normalizing relations, delimiting the border and building confidence.

Significant progress has also been reported on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a multimodal transit initiative designed to strengthen regional connectivity. The United States and Armenia have agreed to establish the TRIPP Development Company, while engineering surveys are already underway in Armenia. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, has nearly completed a highway and railway connection on its territory to link with TRIPP in Armenia.

The three countries are also supporting the development of an electricity transmission line through the TRIPP corridor.

The United States has further committed $201 million to the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund to encourage private-sector investment in the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, across the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Washington has simultaneously expanded its bilateral engagement with both Armenia and Azerbaijan through strategic partnership charters and memoranda of understanding covering energy security, border infrastructure and security, artificial intelligence and semiconductor innovation, and critical minerals.

The joint statement also highlighted Azerbaijan’s unilateral lifting of transit restrictions concerning Armenia. Since the measure was introduced, nearly 60,000 tons of goods have reportedly been transported to and from Armenia through Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan has also supplied 20,000 tons of oil products to Armenia. The two countries are continuing efforts to expand bilateral trade.

In the telecommunications sector, operators from Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed an agreement aimed at diversifying regional internet connectivity routes, improving the reliability and resilience of communications networks in the South Caucasus and supporting the development of Eurasian telecommunications infrastructure.

The statement further noted the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and related structures following a joint request by Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing the move as recognition that the era of unresolved conflict between the two countries has come to an end.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have also joined the Board of Peace at the invitation of the United States, reflecting their stated commitment to working alongside Washington to promote a more peaceful and prosperous international environment.

The United States, Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and jurisdiction of both countries within their internationally recognized borders.

The three governments also reiterated their commitment to the full implementation of the August 8 Joint Declaration and to realizing the region’s economic potential. Washington additionally reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the bilateral strategic partnership charters and memoranda of understanding concluded with Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The statement emphasized that lasting peace requires sustained efforts and reaffirmed the three countries’ determination to build on the achievements of the past year and pursue a stable, connected and prosperous future for the South Caucasus.