Baku: Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently experiencing a de facto state of peace, as articulated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, according to Matthew Bryza, a board member of the Jamestown Foundation and former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan. In a recent statement to AZERTAC, Bryza discussed the developments following the meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, with the participation of US President Donald Trump in Washington on August 8, 2025.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Bryza noted the active and growing trade and transportation links between the two nations, citing shipments of wheat and energy from Azerbaijan to Armenia. Investments, both private and state-funded, are facilitating the development of these connections. Bryza also highlighted President Trump's personal interest in advancing the peace process, aiming for Armenia to amend its constitution as President Aliyev has demanded.

The peace treaty text was finalized in March 2025, and a year ago, the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia initialed the agreement. However, the finalization hinges on Armenia amending its constitution to affirm its respect for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, a point repeatedly acknowledged by Prime Minister Pashinyan. Bryza emphasized the difficulty of achieving such an amendment, as it would require a national referendum and a two-thirds majority in the Armenian parliament to initiate the process. Despite Pashinyan's recent electoral victory, securing this majority remains politically challenging.

Bryza concluded that strengthening peace through bolstering trade and transportation ties is crucial. He called for increased investments from both governments and the private sector to solidify the de facto peace currently existing between Azerbaijan and Armenia.