Washington's role in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks: progress and prospects

The ongoing peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia continue to captivate the international community's attention. At the forefront of nations pledging support and facilitation for these talks stands the United States of America.

According to Report, one of the latest US initiatives supporting the peace process was a meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Washington, D.C. This high-level encounter took place on the sidelines of the summit commemorating NATO's 75th anniversary.

The meeting, initiated and attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, highlighted the significant progress achieved in negotiations towards a peace agreement. Secretary Blinken emphasized that both countries have made substantial strides in the peace process, opening new avenues for developing relations with regional countries and the United States.

James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, during his recent visit to Azerbaijan, underscored Washington's readiness to participate in the negotiations. He noted that both sides maintain highly effective direct communication, stating that the United States participates in this process as friends, ready to help in any way that they can.

In an interview with Report, Irish historian and political scientist Patrick Walsh emphasized that the US is interested in normalizing relations between Baku and Yerevan. He suggested that the US might seek to become a guarantor or one of the parties to the agreement, drawing parallels to what happened in Northern Ireland in 1998.

Walsh also pointed out that the US is likely seeking to diminish Russian influence in the South Caucasus region. "Probably in the most ideal world a peace settlement would be best if there were a combination of guarantors - US, Russia, Türkiye and the EU - but we do not live in an ideal world," he said.

The meetings held under US auspices underscore the importance of Washington's mediation and diplomatic support in the region's peace agenda. However, despite the progress achieved, there is still a long road ahead. A peace agreement could not only bring stability to the region but also unlock new opportunities for economic development and cooperation, benefiting all parties involved.

The next round of negotiations between Baku and Yerevan is expected to take place in London during the fourth summit of the European Political Community (EPC), scheduled for July 18.