I have some concerns about the upcoming meeting between the leaders of the United States, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in Washington. Declarations, polished statements, and diplomatic language are not what matter most. What does matter is whether, beyond all the rhetoric, the parties will agree to something like this: that the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” (regardless of what name it goes by) should be placed under the control of an American private security firm—so that, in the words of Aliyev, “Azerbaijani goods and Azerbaijani citizens do not see the faces of Armenian customs officers and border guards.”
That, in my view, is where the problem begins. The issue is not so much about Armenia, Azerbaijan, or the U.S.—it’s about the inevitable reactions from Iran and Russia. And to be clear, my concern isn’t driven by sympathy for the politics of those two countries. On the contrary, culturally and politically, I feel closer to the United States and Europe. But decisions should be based on clear calculations, not emotional impulses or momentary enthusiasm.
I’ve written before that the U.S. lacks the leverage to guarantee peace in our region. If it did, it would have already stopped the war in Ukraine. Russia cannot ensure peace either—and even less so, the European Union. Until a new world order emerges, the current global instability will continue, and no one will be able to offer real guarantees. That’s why, although this Washington meeting will generate a lot of buzz, excitement, and public relations spin, its practical results are likely to be minimal.
Still, there is something meaningful Trump could do, should he choose to use the authority of his office. After all, he will be sitting down with two dictators.
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One of them-Aliyev is holding Armenian prisoners purely out of revenge—to punish Armenia and Armenians for the past, particularly the period between 1994 and 2020. His aim is not justice but humiliation. The other dictator- Pashinyan, meanwhile, is imprisoning his political opponents simply to clear the way for his own re-election next year.
If Trump still considers himself the “leader of the free world,” as U.S. presidents were once called, he ought to raise these issues… But I suspect that will not happen at today’s meeting. After all, what are legality and human rights compared to the allure of geopolitical deals?
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
