All eyes on Washington for historic Armenian-Azerbaijani summit

US President Donald Trump is expected to host Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for trilateral talks in Washington, D.C. on August 8.

Before the trilateral talks, Trump will hold separate bilateral talks with both leaders. 

The Trump-Pashinyan meeting will take place tonight at 22:30 Yerevan time (14:30 Washington time), according to First Channel News. 

According to the US State Department, the trilateral talks will begin at 16:15 Washington time (00:15 August 9 Yerevan time.) Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the talks.

The Armenian government earlier announced that the bilateral talks between PM Pashinyan and President Trump will focus on fostering Armenia-U.S. strategic partnership.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States will also sign bilateral agreements with both countries to pursue economic opportunities.

He said his administration has been engaged with both Yerevan and Baku for quite some time.

“I look forward to hosting the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, at the White House tomorrow for a Historic Peace Summit,” Trump said. “These two Nations have been at War for many years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. Many Leaders have tried to end the War, with no success, until now, thanks to “TRUMP.” My Administration has been engaged with both sides for quite some time. Tomorrow, President Aliyev AND Prime Minister Pashinyan will join me at the White House for an official Peace Signing Ceremony. The United States will also sign Bilateral Agreements with both Countries to pursue Economic opportunities together, so we can fully unlock the potential of the South Caucasus Region. I am very proud of these courageous Leaders for doing the right thing for the Great People of Armenia and Azerbaijan. It will be a Historic Day for Armenia, Azerbaijan, the United States, and, THE WORLD. See you then!”

Earlier reports indicated that the meeting will culminate in the signing of a peace framework that includes exclusive U.S. development rights to a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus. 

Meanwhile, the Armenian Factor TV news outlet, citing sources, reported that three documents will be signed during the meeting.

The first document, to be signed by the Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers, would pertain to the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group which was set up to facilitate the resolution of the NK conflict.

The second document will be signed between Pashinyan and Trump regarding the transit route, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, and known by the acronym TRIPP. The document will specifically avoid the term ‘corridor’ and use the term ‘route’. Armenia and the US will agree to create a joint enterprise as equal partners.

The road passing through Syunik will be operated under Armenian sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The third document, a framework agreement and not a peace treaty, will be signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stipulating that the parties will continue to work towards achieving peace. The parties will assume obligation to not abandon the already agreed upon 17 terms of the would-be treaty, according to the report.