U.S. Vice President Vance Visits Armenia & Azerbaijan to Push Peace

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has begun a two-country diplomatic mission to Armenia and Azerbaijan to advance a Washington-brokered peace agreement and expand economic ties in the South Caucasus.

The trip comes about six months after the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed a U.S.-mediated deal at the White House aimed at ending decades of hostility between the two countries.

Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday, becoming the first sitting U.S. vice president to visit the country, where he met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 

• J.D. Vance visits Armenia and Azerbaijan to push peace deal
• U.S. signs nuclear cooperation pact with Armenia during Vance visit
• Washington backs new Armenia–Azerbaijan corridor to boost regional trade

The two leaders signed a statement on cooperation in the civil nuclear sector under a 123 Agreement that would allow the United States to export nuclear technology and services to Armenia. The deal could open up to $5 billion in initial U.S. exports, with an additional $4 billion expected for long-term fuel and maintenance contracts.

The nuclear cooperation agreement marks a shift in Armenia’s energy partnerships and comes as Yerevan reviews offers from U.S., Russian, Chinese, French and South Korean firms to build a new nuclear reactor to replace its ageing Russian-built plant.

A central focus of Vance’s visit is the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transit corridor across southern Armenia that would link Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave and provide a direct route to Turkey. The corridor is designed to improve regional connectivity and trade, and could include rail lines, pipelines and fibre-optic cables.

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Vance will travel to Azerbaijan later this week to meet President Ilham Aliyev and continue discussions on implementing the peace pact, strengthening trade, and advancing the corridor project. The United States views the agreement and economic initiatives as part of a broader effort to deepen its strategic role in the region and reduce reliance on Russian and Iranian influence.