Yerevan and Baku could sign peace agreement before end of Trump’s presidential term: congressman

US Congressman Abraham Hamadeh told Radio Liberty that the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan is moving faster than many expected, and predicted that a final peace agreement could be reached well before the end of Donald Trump’s current presidential term.

Hamadeh described TRIPP as something more than just an economic project, arguing that it could politically and economically bring Armenia and Azerbaijan together while opening the South Caucasus to expanded Western trade and investment.

“Things are going very smoothly in both Yerevan and Baku, and both sides are determined to ensure peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus,” he noted.

At the same time, he acknowledged that a number of problems remain: “There are prisoners whom the Armenians would like to see returned from Azerbaijan. I believe that what would help is not only strengthening relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but also Armenia-Turkey relations, which have not been getting enough attention lately. Back in 2022, the two sides agreed to open their borders, starting with diplomatic border crossings. This still hasn’t been implemented. We hope their border will open so that Armenia gains another trade channel besides Russia, Georgia, or Iran. That’s why we need to ensure the Turkish border with Armenia opens.”