Arizona US Rep. Says Armenia, Azerbaijan Could Finalize Peace Deal Well Before Trump Leaves Office

U.S. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh says Armenia and Azerbaijan could reach a final peace agreement well before President Donald Trump leaves office, pointing to growing U.S. involvement and what he described as a strong commitment from both governments to end decades of conflict.

“Oh, absolutely,” Hamadeh said when RFE/RL asked whether the agreement could be finalized during Trump’s current term. “I think you’re going to see it come a lot sooner rather than later.”

The Arizona Republican has taken an increasingly active role in U.S. engagement with the South Caucasus. A member of the House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees, Hamadeh traveled to Azerbaijan in June and Armenia in August, meeting with officials in both countries.

In an interview published Sept. 9, he said the pace of negotiations has exceeded expectations since Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met Trump at the White House in August 2025.

Hamadeh said the biggest challenge now may be allowing time for societies shaped by decades of war to adjust to a new political reality.

“Both sides are absolutely committed to ensuring the South Caucasus is peaceful and prosperous,” he said.

Still, several sensitive issues remain unresolved. Hamadeh specifically mentioned Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, saying Yerevan continues to seek their return.

He also said normalization between Armenia and Turkey could become an important part of the wider regional shift.

Armenia and Turkey agreed in 2022 to open their land border to third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders, but the arrangement has yet to be fully implemented. Hamadeh said opening the border would give Armenia another trade route and reduce its dependence on Russia, Georgia and Iran.

Hamadeh placed particular emphasis on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, known as TRIPP, a U.S.-backed transport project that would run through Armenia and connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.

He described the project as much more than an infrastructure initiative.

“TRIPP is much more than just economics,” Hamadeh said. “It’s going to solidify them and tie them so much diplomatically, politically, economically.”

The project could include road and rail links, energy infrastructure, fiber-optic connections and other commercial ventures. Hamadeh said it could eventually strengthen trade routes linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Turkey and Europe.

He argued that closer economic ties could also make renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan less likely by increasing the cost of confrontation for both sides.

“The amount of opportunity for the South Caucasus is immense,” he said.

Hamadeh also rejected Russian claims that TRIPP could be used to establish a U.S. military or intelligence presence in Armenia.

“This has nothing to do with a U.S. military presence,” he said.

Russian officials have repeatedly criticized Washington’s growing role in the South Caucasus as Moscow’s influence in the region has weakened.

Hamadeh characterized the criticism as an effort to undermine the Armenian government and preserve Russian influence.

“This is classic Russian disinformation,” he said.

He argued that Armenia and Azerbaijan increasingly see Washington as a more dependable partner after years of relying heavily on Moscow.

“The Russians have had their influence in those countries, and they’ve disappointed both of them,” Hamadeh said.

Hamadeh said Washington’s role in the South Caucasus should extend beyond the Trump administration and argued that closer ties with Armenia and Azerbaijan could attract bipartisan support in Congress.

“This is long-term,” he said. “I don’t see this as a partisan issue. This is going to transcend Democrats, Republicans.”

He said continued U.S. involvement would be important as Armenia and Azerbaijan move from political agreements toward implementation, including transport links, border arrangements and economic cooperation.

Hamadeh also pointed to Armenia-Turkey normalization as another development that could reshape the region.

Once borders reopen and new trade routes begin operating, he said, economic interests could gradually replace the conflict-driven politics that have dominated the South Caucasus for decades.

“Once TRIPP is completed, I believe we won’t even be talking about the war anymore,” he said.

Hamadeh described the peace process as part of a broader geopolitical realignment in which Russia and Iran are losing influence while the United States becomes more involved.

He said stronger trade connections with the West could eventually reduce Armenia and Azerbaijan’s reliance on both Moscow and Tehran.

Armenia continues to maintain major economic ties with Russia and neighboring Iran, but Yerevan has also sought to diversify its foreign and trade relationships.

Hamadeh pointed to recent Russian restrictions on Armenian exports as an example of the risks of economic dependence on Moscow.

“Right now you’re starting to see both Russia and Iran are trying to deal with this new reality that the South Caucasus is changing,” he said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for more than three decades over Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan took full control of the region in September 2023, after an offensive that forced more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia.

The two governments have since intensified negotiations aimed at formally ending the conflict and establishing normal relations.

Hamadeh said Washington now has an opportunity to help shape what comes next.

He argued that the South Caucasus is receiving more sustained U.S. attention than at any point in recent years — and predicted that involvement will continue as Armenia and Azerbaijan move closer to a final agreement.

Asked whether peace could be finalized before Trump’s term ends, Hamadeh left little doubt about his assessment.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I think you’re going to see it come a lot sooner rather than later.”

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