Washington agreements open faster, safer trade routes for Nordic states Article by Azerbaijani envoy on Aftonbladet

One of the most influential media outlets in the Nordic countries, Aftonbladet, has published an article in Swedish by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark, Zaur Ahmadov, dedicated to the breakthrough in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Caliber.Az offers its readers an adapted English version of the material.

In the piece, the diplomat noted that after decades of conflict, wars, and fruitless negotiations, the two sides have taken a decisive step toward lasting peace.

On August 8, 2025, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, signed a Joint Declaration in Washington, establishing a new framework for peaceful settlement and thereby closing the door to the failed format of the past – the OSCE Minsk Process.

Ahmadov stressed that one of the key outcomes of the meeting was the initialling of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations, as well as the agreement to open all transport and communication links between the two countries.

Special focus was placed to the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) — a secure land corridor between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenian territory, which is part of the large-scale “Middle Corridor” initiative.

According to the ambassador, TRIPP and the Middle Corridor are important not only for the South Caucasus, but also for Europe, including Sweden and the Nordic countries, as they will provide faster and more reliable trade routes and strengthen stability in a region vital to global supply chains.

“Northern European media have a unique opportunity to ensure that Swedish and Nordic audiences see the peace process for what it truly is — the result of painstaking diplomatic work and a genuine desire to build new relations,” the ambassador wrote.

Ahmadov stressed that the significance of this historic moment should not be diminished by those seeking to preserve the old conflict narrative. Instead, the media should focus on the real changes opening up new opportunities for the peoples of the region.

In conclusion, the diplomat expressed confidence that the South Caucasus, having achieved the Washington breakthrough, can transform from a zone of tension into a bridge between continents.

By Khagan Isayev