Azerbaijani, Armenian flags brought into White House Ahead of Aliyev–Trump–Pashinyan meeting / Video

Preparations are underway at the White House ahead of the highly anticipated trilateral meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In a symbolic gesture underscoring the importance of the occasion, the national flags of Azerbaijan and Armenia were brought into the White House.

White House prepares for historic Aliyev–Trump–Pashinyan summit#Caliber #president #IlhamAliyev #Pashinyan #Azerbaijan #USA #Armenia #Trump #Pashinyan #Karabakh #KarabakhisAzerbaijan #meeting #peaceprocess #diplomacy #news #politics pic.twitter.com/AvH1nm3i76

— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) August 8, 2025

On August 8, U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting a “Historic Peace Summit” at the White House with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The summit is expected to finalise a landmark peace agreement, bringing a formal end to decades of conflict sparked by Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories, including Karabakh.

A central component of the agreement is the launch of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) — a U.S.-developed transit corridor that will restore Azerbaijan’s direct connection with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenian territory. The agreement also entails the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, long criticised by Baku for its ineffectiveness and bias, marking a significant diplomatic shift from Russian-led mediation to a U.S.-led peace initiative in the region.

The summit also includes the signing of separate bilateral agreements between the U.S. and each country, covering areas such as trade, energy, security, and infrastructure development. While the process represents substantial diplomatic progress, certain legal and political issues — particularly constitutional provisions in Armenia that contradict territorial integrity — still require resolution.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began during the final years of the Soviet Union, when Armenian forces occupied Karabakh and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan. A ceasefire was established in 1994, but no lasting settlement followed. In 2023, Azerbaijan restored full sovereignty over its territories through a brief but decisive military operation.

Since then, negotiations have continued, with the United States taking on a more active mediating role in 2025. The proposed TRIPP corridor, to be constructed through Armenian territory under U.S. oversight, is set to boost regional connectivity and economic integration. The White House summit symbolises not only the potential for peace but also a major shift in regional dynamics, with Washington emerging as the principal guarantor of stability in the South Caucasus — a role previously held by Moscow.