U.S. President Donald Trump has shared an article by his special envoy Steve Witkoff, marking one year since Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a joint declaration aimed at advancing a peace agreement between the two countries.
According to Witkoff, the U.S.-led peace process began in March 2025, when Trump’s team visited Baku. He said President Ilham Aliyev impressed the U.S. delegation as a “strong, decisive leader” willing to make difficult decisions for peace.
He further described Aliyev as someone who understood both Azerbaijan’s interests and the wider importance of regional stability:
“Azerbaijan’s president was a strong, decisive leader prepared to make the hard choices necessary for peace, yet weak leaders like those in the previous administration had allowed ties to atrophy. President Aliyev impressed us as a man who understands both his nation’s interests and the broader stakes of regional stability.”
Witkoff also praised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, describing him as a leader capable of making decisions in the interests of his people even when they may initially prove unpopular.
He said the initial visit was followed by frequent meetings in Baku and Yerevan over the next five months, as Washington worked with both sides to advance a settlement.
The U.S. later proposed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transit initiative intended to connect Azerbaijan and Armenia and promote regional economic cooperation.
Witkoff described the concept as a model for addressing long-standing conflicts through “creativity, strength and mutual interest” rather than prolonged negotiations.
After more than three decades of conflict, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed two documents. The first was a joint declaration setting out a path towards permanent peace, economic cooperation and full normalisation of relations.
The second was a joint nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Witkoff said the U.S. has since worked with both countries to turn the agreement into a practical reality through railway engineering surveys, public-private coordination and investment mechanisms.
He added that Washington expects the TRIPP concept to eventually extend across the Caspian Sea and potentially be applied in the Middle East.
Iran and the United States remains far from...
From a newsroom in Baku to audiences around the world, AnewZ marks two years of reporting, documentaries and digital journalism....
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for the 4th of November, as political shifts, renewed diplomacy and rising tensions put governments under pressur...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine's negotiators will meet with Russian and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
A century-old collection of postcards is bringing the human stories behind Azerbaijan's oil boom to life in a new documentary produced by AnewZ in partnership with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).
A new book examining Azerbaijan’s military strategy, technology and operations during the Garabagh wars has been unveiled in Baku, offering insights into the country’s victories and lessons for modern warfare.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Tajikistan has banned electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems, becoming the latest Central Asian country to outlaw their production, import and sale as part of a wider push to protect public health.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment