The Regional Studies Center (RSC) held a special analytical briefing on 14 August to assess the Washington trilateral “peace summit” hosted by U.S. President Trump on 8 August, with Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Aliyev signing a new “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP) agreement and the two sides also initialing a post-war bilateral peace treaty. A separate online session of this special briefing was also held on 15 August, with participants from Ankara, Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris, Tbilisi and Washington.
RSC Director Richard Giragosian presented an analysis of the broader regional context of these developments, including the possible Russian and Iranian responses, the impact on Armenia-Türkiye “normalization,” and the role of the EU in the planned connectivity project. The briefing also included a discussion of the immediate and longer-term implications of the agreement and a focus on the repercussions in Armenian domestic politics.
This briefing was attended by the Ambassadors to Armenia from Brazil and Uruguay, along with diplomatic staff from the Embassies of Canada, Czechia, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Poland, as well as from the European Union Delegation and the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA). Additional participants included representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations. Former UK Ambassador to Armenia Charles Lonsdale, on a private visit to Armenia, was also a special guest.
As an independent “think tank,” the Regional Studies Center (RSC) offers this regular series of analytical briefings to present a concise and comprehensive assessment of the most significant political, economic and military/security developments in Armenia and the South Caucasus region. With a target audience of representatives of the diplomatic community and international organizations in Armenia, the format of this briefing series consists of an informal “off-the-record” and closed discussion, reflecting our aim of providing an alternative source of objective analysis.
The PowerPoint presentation notes from the briefing are attached.