U.S. Welcomes Peace Agreement Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

On Friday, March 15, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement welcoming the conclusion of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan that led to a peace agreement between the two countries. The statement, titled "The Time for Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Has Arrived," expresses appreciation for both countries for reaching a "historic" agreement. It further adds that this agreement is "an opportunity for both countries to turn the page on decades of conflict in line with President Donald Trump's vision for a more peaceful world." In another part of the statement, the U.S. Department of State says, "Now is the time for commitment to peace, signing, ratifying the agreement, and beginning a new era of prosperity for the people of the South Caucasus." Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of newly independent republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the First Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out from 1988 to 1994 between Armenians and their Azerbaijani neighbors. Approximately thirty thousand people were killed, and over one million were displaced. Azerbaijan lost part of its territory, while Armenians maintained control over most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 2020, after decades of conflict, Azerbaijan launched a military operation that led to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. With Turkey's support, Azerbaijan achieved a significant victory in the 44-day war and regained parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Since then, the two countries have been negotiating a peace treaty and determining their common 1,000-kilometer border but have not reached an agreement for various reasons.