Trump Hosts Aliyev and Pashinyan for Peace Summit, Zangezur Corridor on the Agenda

Kokcha News Agency – In a significant diplomatic move, U.S. President Donald Trump will host Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for a trilateral summit. The meeting, which comes as the deadline for Russia to end the Ukraine war expires, aims to broker a peace agreement that could end decades of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The summit is expected to address the Zangezur Corridor, a critical transit route that connects Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave and Turkey through Armenian territory. The corridor, currently under Russian control, is seen as a key element in reducing Russia’s influence in the South Caucasus.

1. Ending Decades of Hostility:
   Azerbaijan and Armenia, which have fought two wars over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1991, are now on the brink of peace. The summit aims to formalize a framework agreement that could end 24 years of hostility.
2. Reducing Russian Influence:
   Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have been distancing themselves from Russia, which has traditionally been a dominant power in the South Caucasus. Armenia, in particular, has shifted its focus towards the European Union and the United States, while Azerbaijan is seeking to strengthen its ties with the West.
3. Zangezur Corridor:
   The Zangezur Corridor, a 43-kilometer route through Armenian territory, is a key issue on the agenda. The corridor would connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan and Turkey, bypassing Russian control and potentially diminishing Moscow’s influence in the region.
4. Strategic Implications:
   The Zangezur Corridor could also threaten Russia’s North-South Corridor, a vital trade route connecting Russia to Iran and India. Losing control over this route would be a significant blow to Russia’s economy, already under Western sanctions.
5. Turkey’s Role:
   The corridor is expected to enhance Turkey’s influence in the region, as it would connect Turkey to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, forming part of the “Middle Corridor” trade route that stretches from Europe to China.