Baku/Yerevan, August 28, 2025 — At a press briefing on Thursday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that peace is “irreversible” and described it as the defining mission of his government. Presenting peace as a strategic priority and a non-negotiable future for Armenia, he argued that new transit routes, regional integration and investment projects — particularly the so-called “Trump Route” corridor — lay the foundation for long-term security and development.
Peace as Strategy — and Constitutional Deadlock
From an Azerbaijani perspective, peace is seen as an inevitable outcome of regional rivalry, though one obstructed by lingering tensions. Analysts in Baku point out that Armenia’s internal instability and constitutional constraints slow any genuine progress.
The central obstacle remains the Armenian constitution, which still contains territorial claims. Without amending these provisions, Azerbaijani experts argue, any peace treaty would be legally fragile and vulnerable to reversal by future governments in Yerevan.
The 2020 Trilateral Statement — Not Obsolete Yet
Pashinyan has repeatedly dismissed the relevance of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement that ended the Second Karabakh War, saying it is no longer meaningful. Yet, for Azerbaijan, the agreement is still binding — especially the clause obligating Armenia to open transport links between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. Baku warns that attempts to “discard” the 2020 deal are in fact efforts to avoid this written commitment.
TRIPP Corridor: Opportunity and Pressure
The “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) corridor through southern Armenia, set to connect Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, has become a focal point of debate. The project, backed by the United States with rights to develop it for 99 years, could dramatically alter the region’s balance of power.
Supporters see it as a tool to reduce Russian and Iranian leverage, boost connectivity with Turkey and Central Asia, and reshape the South Caucasus economy. Yet it also raises risks: Tehran has signaled opposition, though President Masoud Pezeshkian and his foreign minister have offered reassurances that Iran’s sovereignty and communications are not threatened. Within Armenia, opposition parties, the church and diaspora circles remain deeply skeptical.
Defiance Toward Critics and Elites
Pashinyan struck a defensive tone against comments by former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James O’Brien, who warned of Armenia’s “vulnerability” after Washington talks. The prime minister retorted that Armenia is in “the least vulnerable state in modern history,” accusing O’Brien of deflecting from his own failures.
Domestically, Pashinyan sharpened his confrontation with Catholicos Karekin II, calling for his resignation and accusing the church leader of violating celibacy and engaging in politics. He also labeled former president Serzh Sargsyan a threat to national security, underscoring his broader campaign to weaken the old political and religious establishment.
Between Europe and Eurasia
On foreign policy, Pashinyan openly acknowledged that membership in the European Union and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union are incompatible. While avoiding a firm commitment, he stressed that Armenia will continue to adopt European standards even outside formal accession — signaling a long-term strategic drift toward the West and away from Moscow.
A Shift in Orientation
The August 28 briefing underscored a decisive reorientation: Armenia is seeking to align more closely with Western powers, redefine its internal order, and assert independence from traditional spheres of influence. Peace, Pashinyan insists, is irreversible — but for Azerbaijan, real peace will require constitutional changes in Yerevan and fulfillment of written obligations, particularly on the Zangezur corridor.
