US Congressman Hamadeh says Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal possible before Trump term ends

September 10, 2026 at 04:46 PM2 min

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US Congressman Abraham Hamadeh said the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process is moving faster than expected and a final agreement could be reached well before President Donald Trump's term ends. Hamadeh, a Republican from Arizona, visited Azerbaijan in June and Armenia in August and met with both countries' leaders. He described the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) as a project that could bind the two countries politically and economically.

Key Facts

Hamadeh predicted a final peace agreement could be reached well before the end of President Donald Trump's current term.
Hamadeh visited Azerbaijan in June and Armenia in August, meeting with the countries' leaders.
The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) envisages rail and road infrastructure, possible oil and gas pipelines, and fiber-optic and electricity ventures.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for more than three decades over Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani region populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.
A Washington peace summit in August 2025 helped break the deadlock in normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Peace Process Momentum

Hamadeh said the peace process is moving faster than many expected and that both sides are absolutely committed to ensuring the South Caucasus is peaceful and prosperous. He noted that one year ago, in August, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev were at the White House with President Trump, an agreement for peace that nobody saw coming. Hamadeh credited President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance for their instrumental roles in the process. He said US government officials at all levels are committed to the peace effort.

TRIPP Project

Hamadeh described the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) as much more than an economic project, arguing that it could bind Armenia and Azerbaijan together politically and economically while opening the South Caucasus to greater Western trade and investment. TRIPP was unveiled as part of the US-mediated peace process following Armenia's war with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. The project envisages rail and road infrastructure, possible oil and gas pipelines, and fiber-optic and electricity ventures.

Congressional Engagement

Hamadeh, a Republican from Arizona and a member of the House Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, has emerged as an active congressional interlocutor on the South Caucasus. He met with the Armenian ambassador and Azerbaijani ambassador separately and brought them together at his brother's house in Arizona. Both ambassadors attended an event for Hamadeh in Mar-a-Lago. Hamadeh said the only obstacles are time, as it takes time for emotions to settle down after decades of war.