Zaur Ahmadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway explained in @Aftonbladet, Swedish media outlet, under the DEBATT section:How the peace breakthrough between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington benefits Europe — from secure, faster trade via the TRIPP route within the Middle Corridor to greater regional stability — turning the South Caucasus into a vital bridge.

After decades of conflict, war, and failed diplomatic processes, Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken a decisive step toward lasting peace.

On August 8, 2025, at a summit in Washington hosted by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration that both formalizes a new peace framework and closes the door on the failed formats of the past – namely, the OSCE Minsk Process.

One of the most significant outcomes is that the foreign ministers initialed the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations. For the first time in three decades, there is a concrete, mutually recognized plan for peace, with the final crucial step being Armenia’s upcoming constitutional amendment to remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

At the heart of the practical peace agenda is the opening of all transport and communication links between the countries. The most visionary element here is the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) – a secure land link between mainland Azerbaijan and the autonomous republic of Nakhchivan via Armenia.

A region central to energy supply and global value chains

TRIPP is not just a local infrastructure matter. It is a key part of the much larger Middle Corridor initiative – the growing trade route connecting Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and China without passing through countries considered geopolitically problematic.

For Sweden and the Nordic region, with export-dependent economies and an interest in diversified and secure trade flows, TRIPP and the Middle Corridor could potentially mean faster and more predictable deliveries – from industrial components to consumer goods. As a new artery of peace, it could also strengthen geopolitical stability in a region central to energy supply and global value chains.

As some recent media articles have shown, historic peace moments like this risk being diminished by voices seeking to maintain the narrative of the former conflict. These actors – often with long-standing loyalties to one side and a consistent anti-peace agenda – attempt to downplay peace progress in order to keep alive a mistrust that is disappearing.

Such voices need to be marginalized, as they stand in the way of development and reconciliation. The media should instead focus on the real changes and opportunities now emerging.

From a security concern to a bridge between continents

Sweden and the Nordic countries have a long tradition of working for peace and cooperation. The Nordic cooperation model – with open dialogue and regional integration – can serve as an inspiration for the South Caucasus.

Nordic media have a unique opportunity here: to help the Swedish and Nordic public see the peace process for what it is – the result of hard diplomatic work and a genuine will to build new relations. By highlighting facts, analyzing the economic and humanitarian gains, and showing how TRIPP and the Middle Corridor can also benefit their own countries, the media can become part of a better future.

For the peoples of the South Caucasus, it is no longer about dreaming of peace – but about beginning to live it. After the Washington breakthrough, the South Caucasus can now move from being a security policy concern to becoming a bridge between continents.

Zaur Ahmadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Sweden, Finland, Denmark & Norway.

First edition Så blir nya deklarationen viktig – även för Sverige

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