Wed Aug 06 02:14:25 UTC 2025: ## White House to Host Armenian and Azerbaijani Leaders for Peace Talks Amidst Lingering Tensions

**Washington, D.C.** – U.S. President Donald Trump will host Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House on Friday for peace talks aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict between the two South Caucasus nations.

A U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday that there is a possibility a framework for a peace agreement could be announced at the meeting. The talks come on the heels of a meeting in Abu Dhabi last month, which failed to yield a breakthrough in the conflict.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in a dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh since the late 1980s. Azerbaijan regained control of the region in September 2023, prompting a mass exodus of the predominantly ethnic Armenian population, estimated at 100,000, to Armenia.

Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of attempting to erase Armenian cultural heritage in the region, a claim currently being heard by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This case is rooted in the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh, one of three major conflicts fought between the two countries, which resulted in over 6,600 deaths. The ICJ has ordered Azerbaijan to allow the safe return of ethnic Armenians to the region.

While Azerbaijan asserts its commitment to the safety and security of all residents, regardless of ethnicity, and denies forcing the exodus, Armenia alleges continued discrimination and attempts to erase Armenian heritage. Azerbaijan, in turn, accuses Armenia of displacing Azeris from the region in the 1990s.

Despite finalizing a draft peace deal in March, ceasefire violations along the heavily militarized border between Armenia and Azerbaijan escalated shortly after, though they have since diminished. The upcoming White House meeting represents a crucial opportunity for the two leaders to bridge their differences and work towards a lasting peace agreement. The international community will be watching closely for any progress towards de-escalation and the resolution of this protracted and complex conflict.

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