“The U. S.-Azerbaijani relations are actually much improved, and quite frankly, the U. S.-Caspian relations are much improved and for good reason,” Jason Epstein, President of the US-based Southfive Strategies organization, told AZERTAC.

“If you are a friend of peace, if you're a friend of prosperity, then there's so much to celebrate. And recent events, of course, include the meeting at the White House in August between President Trump and President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan. The subsequent events have also been quite positive,” he noted.

“It's obviously a momentous occasion when the three leaders can sit down and do what couldn't be done before, and that is put an end to this tragic conflict that has lasted for more than 30 years. The stuff that needs to go on behind the scenes has to be finished. And then I think the region (South Caucasus) will have an even more amazing 2026,” the expert said.

Touching upon the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), Epstein added, “It means that there is going to be an avenue of economic prosperity and investment, integration. It means less reliance on other actors, other larger actors who do not have the interests of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia at heart. I think, with the agreement that has been reached and the interest in solving long-standing issues, it means that there is a greater, much greater chance for those who inhabit the region, to have a prosperous future.”

Malahat Najafova

Special correspondent