One year since the Washington Summit How the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace process is taking shape

Political analyst Farhad Mammadov, head of the Centre for South Caucasus Studies, has shared his assessment of the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace process in a post on his Telegram channel.

"One year has passed since August 8, 2025. Let us try to structure the peace agenda and identify the trends that have emerged over the past year.

The bilateral format has been established as the only viable framework for the peace process. A coordinated peace agenda has taken shape, consisting of a sequence of mutually agreed steps.

The implementation of the TRIPP project has defined the formula for third-party involvement in the peace agenda: participation is possible only with the consent of both sides and in relation to a specific area or project.

Dialogue at the highest and senior levels has been institutionalised. Permanent operational communication is maintained between the two presidential administrations. Diplomats are also in regular contact to reduce tensions within international organisations.

An intergovernmental commission, co-chaired by the two countries' deputy prime ministers, is addressing border delimitation and economic relations.

Economic interaction and cooperation have begun.

Civil society has also established a platform for dialogue through the Bridge of Peace initiative.

Azerbaijan and Armenia are expanding their relations with a growing number of countries while seeking to capitalise on the peace agenda to advance their respective security interests, economic development, and regional integration projects.

Of course, it cannot be said that the foundations have been laid for resolving all the issues and consequences of the conflict. However, over the past year, it has become evident that existing problems, future disagreements, and competition will be addressed—and potentially resolved—through negotiations and diplomacy.

On the first anniversary of the Washington Summit, it can be stated with confidence that, over the next five years, Azerbaijan and Armenia will continue to be governed by two legitimate administrations that have agreed on a common peace agenda and made peace a central element of their domestic political programs.

Over the past year, the region has not become safer. Alongside continued instability in the north, tensions have also flared in the south. Yet this has not prompted either side to reconsider or abandon the peace agenda.

The TRIPP project has begun to take concrete shape, with construction expected to begin in the coming months. Over the past year, the Trump administration has demonstrated strong interest in the initiative, conducting parallel engagement with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as with the countries of Central Asia. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been earmarked for the project, while proposals for investments worth billions have also been put forward. As a result, TRIPP is emerging as the backbone of a broader framework for regional cooperation and connectivity. This is of strategic interest both to the countries of the region and to the United States.

The peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia is laying the groundwork for a transformation of the region's strategic landscape—a process that will take several years. This transformation faces resistance both from within the countries of the region and from external actors. The South Caucasus states will have to withstand this pressure while continuing to move forward. The first year of the peace process has demonstrated that a new trajectory has been established, and all stakeholders will need to adapt to the region's evolving realities.

Important milestones still lie ahead—including the adoption of a new Constitution in Armenia, the implementation of the TRIPP project, and the delimitation and demarcation of additional sections of the border—which will determine the pace of the peace process. The key point is that the peace agenda remains relevant and continues to gain substantive momentum,” Mammadov concluded.