JD Vance to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan next month

(Horizon Weekly) – US Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan next month, according to US President Donald Trump as Washington continues to frame itself as a central broker in post war arrangements between the two states.

Trump said the visit would aim to advance the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, referring to an agreement signed in Washington in August. In public remarks and social media posts, Trump highlighted plans to deepen strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan, pursue civilian nuclear cooperation with Armenia, expand semiconductor related investments, and move forward with US defense equipment sales to Baku.

Trump also praised Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for maintaining the agreement, describing the current moment as one of peace and prosperity. The deal requires both sides to renounce territorial claims against one another, refrain from the use of force, and commit to respect for international law following decades of conflict.

US officials have pointed to recent steps such as Armenia’s announcement that it will integrate parts of its energy system with Azerbaijan as part of a US backed initiative facilitating electricity trade between the two countries.

Azerbaijan’s leadership has portrayed the process as the definitive closure of the conflict. Speaking earlier this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Aliyev said Armenia and Azerbaijan had jointly decided to move beyond war, while criticizing international institutions for failing to resolve the conflict over three decades. He argued that Azerbaijan restored sovereignty and territorial integrity through force before peace became possible.

Despite these claims, major humanitarian and legal issues remain unresolved. The fate and right of return of displaced Armenians from Artskah, the continued detention of Armenian prisoners, the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage, and the presence of Azerbaijani forces on internationally recognized Armenian territory have not been addressed in public US statements. Critics warn that framing the situation as a completed peace risks sidelining accountability and long term stability in favor of political normalization.

Vance’s upcoming visit is expected to further clarify Washington’s priorities in the region, even as questions persist over whether the current diplomatic track can address the deeper humanitarian and security concerns left in the aftermath of war