Azerbaijan's president declares 'page on war' with Armenia is closed

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced on Tuesday that his country and Armenia have “closed the page on war,” emphasizing that further conflict would have led to “very bad consequences.” Speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Aliyev pointed to the joint declaration adopted after a trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington last August as a foundation for ongoing peace efforts.

Foundation of the Washington Declaration

The August 8 declaration, reached under U.S. mediation, committed the foreign ministers of both countries to finalize a peace and interstate relations agreement. Armenia also pledged to cooperate with the United States and other partners to establish the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” a connectivity initiative aimed at enhancing regional trade and stability. Aliyev’s remarks in Davos reflect confidence in the diplomatic track, even as key issues such as border delimitation, the rights and security of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, and transport corridors remain subjects of ongoing negotiation.

Context of Post-Conflict Normalization

The statement follows Azerbaijan’s military retaking of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in September 2023, which led to the dissolution of the breakaway republic and the displacement of most of its ethnic Armenian population. Since then, Baku and Yerevan have engaged in sporadic talks, with occasional border clashes underscoring the fragility of the situation. Aliyev’s declaration signals a desire to frame the conflict as resolved and to shift focus toward economic cooperation and regional integration.

Implications for Regional Stability and Connectivity

By publicly affirming an end to war, Aliyev aims to reassure investors and international partners about stability in the South Caucasus. The envisioned “Trump Route” and other connectivity projects could position Azerbaijan as a key transit hub between Europe and Asia, leveraging its energy resources and geographic position. However, lasting peace will depend on the implementation of concrete agreements, mutual trust-building, and addressing the humanitarian and political legacies of the three-decade conflict.