Trump Hosts Armenian and Azerbaijani Leaders at Washington Peace Council

U.S. President Donald Trump held the first session of a new initiative called the “Peace Council” in Washington, bringing together leaders to discuss global conflicts. Among those attending were Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose countries have been locked in conflict for decades.

During the meeting, Trump spoke at length about efforts to improve relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two nations that have fought wars over the indengous region of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a major war in the early 1990s and another in 2020. Fighting, border clashes, and deep hostility have continued since then. Thousands have been killed, and entire Armenian population has been forcibly displaced.

Because of this history, even small diplomatic gestures between the two leaders are closely watched.

Trump Claims He Helped Bring Leaders Together

Trump described a previous meeting in the Oval Office where the two leaders initially stood far apart due to tensions between their countries.

“They were both tough people,” he said. “When they came into the Oval Office, they were standing on opposite sides of the room.”

According to Trump, after discussions, the leaders moved closer together, signed a document, and embraced.

“Now we have peace between these two important countries,” he said, adding that the moment was unforgettable.

He also told the audience that Pashinyan and Aliyev have since become “friends,” praising them for their efforts.

At one point during the event, Trump invited both leaders to stand, and the audience applauded as they shook hands.

Leaders Spoke Privately Before the Session

Before the meeting began, Prime Minister Pashinyan posted a video showing himself speaking with President Aliyev. He said he had discussions with foreign partners but did not reveal what was discussed.

No details have been released about whether any concrete agreements were reached.

Major Powers Were Not Present

Notably absent were other major global powers. None of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — France, the United Kingdom, Russia, or China — attended the meeting.

Earlier announcements suggested the Peace Council would focus on rebuilding Gaza. Trump later said the initiative would address broader global conflicts.

Controversial Plans Involving Armenia

The meeting comes during sweeping claims about new U.S. projects and influence in Armenia, particularly in the southern Syunik region — a narrow strip of land that borders Iran and separates mainland Azerbaijan from its exclave of Nakhijevan.

According to statements circulating online and in political commentary, the United States has proposed major infrastructure, energy, and technology projects in Armenia. These include:

• A plan to secure long-term control over a transportation corridor through Syunik

• Large-scale investment in Armenia’s energy system, including new nuclear technology

• A massive artificial intelligence project in Yerevan

• Expanded U.S. security involvement in the region

  
  

Some supporters describe these initiatives as a way to bring stability, economic development, and Western investment to Armenia.

Critics, however, warn that long-term foreign control over strategic infrastructure could raise serious sovereignty concerns and dramatically shift the balance of power in the South Caucasus.

As of now, many details of these proposals remain unconfirmed, and no official agreements outlining such arrangements have been publicly released.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.