LIVE: Key morning headlines from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

● President Ilham Aliyev and Donald Trump held a phone call to mark the first anniversary of the historic Washington peace summit attended by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the United States. The conversation highlighted major positive changes that have taken place as a result of the summit, including the export of Azerbaijani petroleum products to Armenia, the transit of cargo through Azerbaijan to Armenia, and the launch of trade relations between the two countries.

● The phone call also noted that infrastructure work in Azerbaijan as part of the Trump Route transit project, TRIPP, is nearing completion. The project will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenian territory. The sides expressed hope that work on the TRIPP project in Armenia will begin soon.

● Donald Trump praised Ilham Aliyev’s role in the peace process. It was emphasized that no incident capable of undermining peace in the region had occurred over the past year.

● The signing of the strategic partnership document between Azerbaijan and the United States was described as a historic event, with confidence expressed that the partnership would continue to develop successfully.

● Donald Trump also held a phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan stressed the decisive importance of Trump’s personal efforts in establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They also discussed the implementation of the TRIPP transit project and issues on the bilateral Armenian-American agenda.

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The leaders reportedly discussed the first anniversary of the Washington peace summit. They particularly highlighted the importance of the initialling at the summit of the text of a peace agreement between the two countries. The important role of President Donald Trump and the US government in advancing the peace process was emphasized. The development of trade and economic ties between Azerbaijan and Armenia was highlighted as a clear demonstration of the benefits of peace. The leaders also discussed the implementation of the TRIPP transit project.

● US Chargé d’Affaires in Azerbaijan Amy Carlon published a video message marking the anniversary of the Washington summit. She noted that during the summit, the sides initialled an agreement that laid the foundation for lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia after more than three decades of conflict. Over the past year, both countries have taken concrete steps in this direction. There have been regular exchanges between civil society representatives from the two countries, while the first signs of cross-border trade have emerged, including Armenia’s regular purchases of Azerbaijani fuel. Carlon described the TRIPP transit project as one of the key elements of the August 8, 2025 agreement. “This route will provide Azerbaijan with unimpeded access to Nakhchivan and will contribute to integration and the development of East-West transport connectivity,” she said.

Speaking about active contacts and high-level visits between Azerbaijan and the United States, Carlon highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals, signed in June. She also said the two countries had held their first bilateral economic dialogue, while US companies had signed commercial and investment agreements worth billions of dollars. “And this is only the beginning. There is much more to come,” Amy Carlon said.

● US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Armenia and Azerbaijan on “the courage and vision they have demonstrated over the past year” and said Washington “looks forward to continued progress toward a durable peace in the South Caucasus.” Rubio’s statement was published on the State Department website. “TRIPP — a multimodal transit route that will modernize rail and road networks, energy and digital infrastructure — is close to becoming a reality: engineering surveys for the railway in Armenia are already underway, while Azerbaijan is on the verge of completing the road and railway infrastructure that will connect with Armenia,” the statement said.

● Marco Rubio also announced the launch of the Trans-Caspian Corporate Fund, with the US government contributing $201 million to encourage private-sector investment along the Middle Corridor. “TRIPP is a vital link in the Trans-Caspian trade route, […] a model for how economic cooperation can strengthen peace after the resolution of longstanding disputes,” the statement said.

● US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff also marked the anniversary. “Thanks to President Donald Trump’s leadership, the South Caucasus is safer, more prosperous and more stable, and the future of these great countries [Azerbaijan and Armenia] looks bright. Proud to be part of this historic administration,” Witkoff wrote on X.

● EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Magdalena Grono published a post on X marking the first anniversary of the Washington summit. “The European Union strongly welcomes the positive and constructive steps taken to institutionalize and advance the peace process. The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have opened the way to lasting and irreversible peace,” Grono wrote.

● The British Embassy in Azerbaijan issued a statement praising the political will of the leaders who took a historic step toward peace and reaffirming its support for efforts to achieve lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

● “President Ilham Aliyev won the war, but he also won the peace! A year has passed since the Washington peace summit,” presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev wrote on X, sharing a video from the summit.

● President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of appreciation to Donald Trump, stressing that “the historic peace summit organized by Trump laid the foundation for peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia.” “You succeeded in bringing an end to a three-decade-long conflict and laid the foundation for an era of reconciliation and mutually beneficial partnership between the peoples,” Aliyev wrote. Key points from the letter:

One of the most significant outcomes of the summit, the TRIPP transit project, has enormous potential to strengthen regional transport connectivity and enhance security in the South Caucasus.

Over the past year, important steps have been taken to develop relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia through Azerbaijan have been lifted, and Azerbaijani petroleum products are also being delivered to Armenia.

The Washington meeting in August last year was a historic milestone in bilateral relations, which have entered a qualitatively new stage of strategic partnership.

During Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Azerbaijan six months ago, a Strategic Partnership Charter covering a wide range of areas was signed.

Baku considers Trump’s decision to extend the suspension of the discriminatory Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act an important step toward restoring historical justice. The amendment was adopted after the outbreak of the First Karabakh War and prohibits US government assistance to Azerbaijan.

“The invaluable contribution of the US president to the remarkable progress achieved in such a short period in strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, which has reached its highest level in the 34-year history of diplomatic relations.”

● Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a message marking the first anniversary of the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the United States in Washington. “Until August 8, 2025, our state was at a dead end, while after August 8, boundless opportunities opened up before us. Whether we make use of them or not depends on our collective will,” Pashinyan said. He stressed that the chapter of conflict between the two countries has been closed and that peace has become part of citizens’ everyday lives. Pashinyan said Armenia would soon begin the practical implementation of the TRIPP transit project, “and this will become a major regional and international event.”

● Azerbaijan once again reaffirmed its full support for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Georgia based on the principle of territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a special statement marking the 18th anniversary of the Georgian-Russian “August” war. The statement also emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Georgia.

● Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan suggested that a defense alliance could be created in the Caucasus and sign a mutual defense agreement with a similar alliance established on August 7 by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Under the Mecca Agreement signed by the three countries, an armed attack on any one of them will henceforth be regarded as a military intervention against all participants in the agreement. “Azerbaijan and Armenia are moving toward concluding a final peace agreement, and Ankara is actively supporting this process. This creates prospects in the security and economic spheres. Türkiye takes such a position regarding the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Mediterranean basin and Europe. By building such cooperation, Türkiye is becoming the only NATO member with diplomatic influence in all parts of the world,” Fidan said.

● A mine incident was reported in the Khojavend district of Karabakh. According to reports, a bulldozer operated by a local resident hit a mine in an uncleared area. No one was injured in the incident. Authorities once again urged citizens to follow safety rules.

● A major fire broke out at the Baku Oil Terminal on Sunday. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said the fire was extinguished quickly, preventing it from spreading over a large area. No one was injured.

President Ilham Aliyev — won the war, but also won the peace!

One year since the Washington Peace Summit. pic.twitter.com/B7tuoD3rwh

— Hikmet Hajiyev (@HikmetHajiyev) August 8, 2026

Top stories in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia from 3-7 August, 2026