Peace Prospect: High-Stakes Talk at the White House

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, as they attempt to broker a peace agreement. The leaders aim to resolve nearly four decades of conflict between their nations.

The hostility originates from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has a majority ethnic Armenian population. Historical clashes culminated in two major wars, with the most recent in 2020 witnessing Azerbaijan regain significant territory.

Despite agreeing on a draft peace deal text, progress has been sluggish, hindered by constitutional debates and territorial disputes. Armenia faces political pressure over constitutional changes while Azerbaijan seeks a transit corridor through Armenian territory, complicating the negotiations further.

(With inputs from agencies.)