Global (Commonwealth Union) _ A new US-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan has drawn widespread international support, with leaders and institutions praising it as a potential turning point in the South Caucasus. Signed in Washington in the presence of US President Donald Trump, the agreement follows decades of conflict, much of it centred on Nagorno-Karabakh, and comes less than two years after Azerbaijan reclaimed full control of the region.
The accord details plans for the Zangezur Corridor, an essential trade route aimed at linking Central Asia with Turkey and global markets. The corridor is anticipated to feature railway tracks, communication systems, and energy pipelines, with American firms spearheading the project known as the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity.” Advocates claim that it might rejuvenate aspects of the ancient Silk Road while avoiding both Iran and Russia, changing traditional regional trade dynamics.
While the deal has been warmly received by the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), as well as numerous countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France, and the UK, Iran has voiced strong objections. Tehran’s foreign ministry has warned of “negative consequences” from what it sees as foreign intervention near its borders, vowing to block the planned corridor. Russia’s reaction has been more muted, with the foreign ministry emphasising its role in earlier ceasefire agreements and cautioning against new “dividing lines” in the region.
The agreement is largely aspirational, with several points requiring further negotiation. Still, the symbolism of the gathering, termed by many as historic, has been meaningful. Pope Leo used his Sunday Angelus to highlight the deal as a sign of hope, urging world leaders to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts.
If realised, the proposed corridor could reshape the geopolitical and economic landscape of the South Caucasus, providing both countries with an incentive to maintain stability. Meanwhile, the question of whether Washington’s political momentum can endure in the face of intricate regional dynamics continues to dominate attention.
