Latest news with #Aliyev
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Trump brings peace to Caucasus: Inside the Armenia–Azerbaijan deal 30 years in the making
In exclusive interviews with Fox News Digital, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described a U.S.-brokered peace deal as a "historic" opportunity to end more than three decades of conflict and to launch a new era of cooperation in the South Caucasus. Speaking separately, both leaders credited former President Donald Trump and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for guiding months of negotiations that produced the framework agreement. They outlined plans for trade, infrastructure and investment while acknowledging that key political and humanitarian issues may still need to be resolved before the deal is finalized. Aliyev said the agreement cannot be formally signed until Armenia amends its constitution, which he claims still questions Azerbaijani sovereignty. "It's kind of their homework," Aliyev said. "As soon as it is done … the final peace agreement will be signed." Pashinyan rejected that condition, insisting Armenia is already committed to respecting territorial integrity and has "no territorial claims" towards any neighbor. He confirmed that his government is drafting a new constitution but called it an "internal issue" unrelated to the peace terms. One central pillar of the deal is the creation of the "TRIPP corridor," or Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, a transport and trade route designed to connect Armenia and Azerbaijan more directly while integrating the South Caucasus into broader international shipping and energy networks. Aliyev called the project "one of the important parts of international transportation," saying it would link the Caspian Sea region with markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The corridor is expected to carry goods, energy supplies, and potentially serve as a rail hub for cross-regional trade. Pashinyan described the agreement to open communications "based on principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, reciprocity and internationally recognized borders" as a breakthrough. "Now we have de facto peace … it is time to have common investment projects, to have economic cooperation," he said. "The involvement of the U.S. will make this whole story even more attractive for potential investors." The status of refugees and detainees from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unsettled. Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians fled the region after Azerbaijan regained control in the 2020 war and a 2023 military operation. Many resettled in Armenia, but disputes continue over the right to return, property claims and the fate of those detained during and after the fighting. Azerbaijan maintains that prisoners in its custody are combatants or saboteurs, while Armenia and international human rights groups describe many of them as political prisoners. Pashinyan cautioned that raising "very sensitive issues" too aggressively could risk reigniting tensions. "The issue of refugees is important, but we need to concentrate on signing the peace agreement … to poke continuously some very sensitive issues could revive the conflict, you know, and I think it is very important now for both Armenia and Azerbaijan to concentrate on implementation what already has been agreed." Aliyev praised Trump's direct involvement in the peace process and criticized what he called unfair portrayals of Azerbaijan under the Biden administration. He pointed to Azerbaijan's cooperation with U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and said Trump's return to active diplomacy made the current breakthrough possible. "It was only President Trump … immediately he jumped in the [peace] process," Aliyev said, adding that if Trump had remained in office after the 2020 election, "probably what we are experiencing today … [would have happened] earlier." The interviews came hours after Pashinyan and Aliyev joined Trump at the White House to announce the agreement — a rare moment of public unity in a region long defined by war, blockades and mistrust. While the framework sets the stage for normalized relations, both leaders acknowledged that decades of hostility will not disappear overnight. "It isn't possible to change everything during a day, a week or even a year," Pashinyan said. "But this is a very bright expression of what we want — both leaders, President Aliyev and myself — we want to change this whole situation." For Trump, the event marked a high-profile example of his deal-making credentials on the world stage. For Armenia and Azerbaijan, it was a step toward a future that both say they are ready to build — if the remaining disputes can be resolved.
LeMonde
12-08-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Trump inserts himself into the South Caucasus
That makes three! On Friday, August 8, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev became the third head of state or government to come to the White House and call for the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded to the American president, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also endorsed Donald Trump for the prize from afar through a letter to the Nobel Committee in Oslo. Is President Trump truly the "peacemaker" he claims to be, boasting of resolving half a dozen conflicts around the world in just seven months? That is for the Nobel Committee to decide. In the Indo-Pakistani conflict, New Delhi denied any American mediation, and fighting resumed in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo despite the peace agreement signed in June in Washington by Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The August 8 draft agreement between President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, reached alongside Trump, looks different. At first glance, it is a striking diplomatic success in a conflict that has pitted two countries in the South Caucasus against each other for 35 years and has already led to two wars. Multiple mediation attempts – led by Moscow, Brussels and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – failed. The dispute appeared unsolvable in this notoriously complex post-Soviet region. Enter Trump and his envoy, former real estate magnate Steve Witkoff, and suddenly a breakthrough was achieved. Russia and Iran the major losers In reality, the Trump team did not start from scratch. At the initiative of Aliyev and Pashinyan, Azerbaijan and Armenia had engaged in a promising bilateral dialogue for nearly two years, without the burdensome patronage of Russian, Turkish or Iranian powers. They took advantage of several factors that profoundly altered the regional political context: the full-scale war in Ukraine, the weakening influence of Russia and Iran – both preoccupied with other priorities – and the emerging roles of new actors like Turkey and China. This confluence of factors created a unique situation in the history of Armenia and Azerbaijan: both countries ultimately managed to keep Russia at arm's length. In March, Yerevan and Baku reached an agreement to normalize their relations. In July, Aliyev and Pashinyan met in Abu Dhabi as their teams worked on a peace agreement. This was Trump's stroke of genius, inserting himself into a positive dynamic already underway, but to which he managed to give a decisive push. The intervention at this stage by the United States – an actor free of historical baggage and considerable economic clout – proved beneficial. The next step is to finalize what is still just a draft agreement, which has not yet been signed by both parties. The much-discussed "TRIPP" (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), a corridor whose construction is expected to end the isolation of the Azerbaijani region of Nakhchivan, exists only on paper. Russia and Iran, the main losers in this process, could try to spoil the party. For now, though, Trump can congratulate himself, at little cost, even as the two biggest conflicts he has promised to resolve, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, remain stubbornly resistant to his "peacemaking" skills.
Time of India
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin's ‘Old Foe' Hints At Major War Move; Azerbaijan Fumes At Russian Attacks On Its Sites In Ukraine
/ Aug 12, 2025, 06:40AM IST Azerbaijan is poised to change the dynamics with Russia following recent Russian strikes on Azerbaijani energy infrastructure in Ukraine. After multiple attacks, including drone strikes on SOCAR oil depots and pipelines, Azerbaijan is considering arming Kyiv for the first time since the full-scale war began. Ukrainian and Azerbaijani presidents have discussed strengthening energy cooperation and vowed to continue their partnership despite challenges. #Azerbaijan #Russia #UkraineWar #SOCAR #EnergyAttack #Zelensky #Aliyev #MilitaryMove #RussiaUkraineConflict #Defense #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #WarUpdate #UkraineSupport #TransBalkanPipeline
Qatar Tribune
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Armenia and Azerbaijan publish peace agreement
Moscow: After months of negotiations on a peace agreement, the hostile South Caucasus republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have published the text of their peace agreement. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had the 17-point agreement published at the same time. It stipulates that both countries recognize each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity within the existing borders. Pashinyan and Aliyev signed the agreement at the White House on Friday in the presence of US President Donald Trump. Ratification by the parliaments is still required for the agreement to enter into force. This should not be a problem for Aliyev, who rules Azerbaijan with a firm hand and no opposition. In democratically governed Armenia, on the other hand, where there have been repeated mass protests against Pashinyan, this is unlikely to be a sure-fire success. (DPA)
OC Media
11-08-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Baku to reportedly ‘lift arms embargo' on Ukraine after Russian attack on Azerbaijani gas facility
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article The Caucasus is changing — so are we. The future of journalism in the region is grim. Independent voices are under threat — and we're responding by building a newsroom powered by our readers. Join our community and help push back against the hardliners. Become a member The Azerbaijani pro-government media outlet Caliber has cited anonymous sources as saying that Baku will 'begin considering' lifting an arms embargo on Ukraine following a Russian attack on an Azerbaijani petrol depot in Odesa. Caliber cited 'reliable sources' as saying that Baku might come to this decision 'if Russia continues its aggressive policy against Azerbaijan's interests'. 'Let's note that the Russian armed forces have begun systematically striking Azerbaijan's energy facilities on Ukrainian territory. This situation forces Baku to take retaliatory measures. All of this will inevitably lead to a further deepening of the crisis in bilateral relations', wrote Caliber. Since the 25 December crash of an Azerbaijani Airlines (AZAL) flight between Baku and Grozny in Aktau, Kazakhstan, relations between Baku and Moscow have seemingly been in freefall. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Azerbaijan has provided the country more than $40 million in humanitarian aid. Yet, despite indications of increased support, Azerbaijan has so far officially refrained from providing arms to Ukraine. In April 2024, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated at an international forum that, 'Even if we are asked, we do not give weapons to Ukraine, we can say this openly, we will not. Humanitarian aid — yes, weapons — no, that is my answer'. Advertisement 'This is a great tragedy for two nations that are very close to each other ethnically and religiously. Was there a chance to avoid war? I think there was. Did the Ukrainian leadership have a chance in previous years to establish normal relations with Russia? I am absolutely sure that there was', Aliyev emphasised in his speech. However, during a speech in July 2025 during a media forum in Stepanakert (Khankendi), Aliyev openly supported Ukraine, telling them to 'never come to terms with the occupation'. On Monday, Aliyev issued a decree providing $2 million in aid to the Ukrainian energy sector which is intended to be used to purchase and ship electrical equipment produced in Azerbaijan. The funds will be provided from the President's Reserve Fund, provided for in the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2025. Aliyev's decree came the day after he held a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyi. According to a statement published by the president's website, Aliyev and Zelenskyi 'condemned the deliberate airstrikes by Russia on an oil storage facility owned by Azerbaijan's SOCAR in Ukraine, as well as other Azerbaijani facilities and a gas compressor station transporting Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine'. 'They emphasised their confidence that these attacks would not hinder energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine', the statement continued. Russia attacked facilities holding Azerbaijani gas in Odesa Oblast on 6 August, including a compressor station near the Ukrainian–Romanian border. 'This compressor station was involved in the route connecting Greek LNG terminals with Ukrainian gas storage facilities via the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, through which LNG from the US and test volumes of Azerbaijani gas were already supplied', Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said. 'This is a clear and understandable signal for all of Europe, which plans to completely abandon Russian natural gas in 2027'. The attack on Azerbaijan-linked Ukraine's gas facilities in Odesa was not the only related incident in recent days. On Saturday, Romanian media outlet G4 wrote, citing unnamed official sources, that 'Russia may have been behind the contamination of a batch of Azerbaijani oil en route from Turkey'. Earlier in August, the Romanian Energy Ministry reported that a shipment of Azerbaijani crude oil from the Turkish port of Ceyhan was contaminated with organic chlorides and rendered unusable. G4 reported that the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan Pipeline Company (BTC), which operates the main source of Azerbaijani fossil fuels flowing to the EU, also said the contaminant had been found in 'several storage tanks'.
