ISTANBUL

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday noted the “important role” of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project in regional connectivity during a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

In their meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Aliyev and Trump “expressed satisfaction” with the development of bilateral ties in various fields since the US leader assumed office in January 2025, according to a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency.

“On August 8 last year in Washington, President Donald Trump's historic role in reaching agreements on advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia was emphasized,” the statement said.

Aliyev, the readout said, also touched on the steps taken towards the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan, noting that “peace already exists in the region,” which reflected in trade relations established between the two South Caucasus neighbors.

“In this regard, he emphasized the export of oil products from Azerbaijan to Armenia, as well as the delivery of imported grain to Armenia through our country,” the statement added.

Aliyev also noted TRIPP’s “important role in terms of regional connections.”

The project will link mainland Azerbaijan with its autonomous Nakhchivan enclave through Armenia, under a declaration signed on Aug. 8 last year at a summit in Washington, DC between Aliyev, Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

According to Thursday’s statement, the talks in Davos also touched on the importance of Trump’s “Board of Peace” and noted the importance of the international body in “strengthening peace in the Middle East, as well as contributing to the resolution of global conflicts.”

“The invitation of Azerbaijan ... was assessed as an embodiment of the Azerbaijan-US strategic partnership and the role played by our country in promoting peace in the world,” the statement said, adding that the two presidents also discussed bilateral relations.

Earlier Thursday, Trump formally rolled out his “Board of Peace” at a signing ceremony in Davos, saying the group on which he is serving as chairman will work in partnership with the UN to address crises far beyond the Gaza Strip.

​​The initiative, initially conceived as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and post-war reconstruction, has since expanded into a broader international conflict-mediation body. Both Azerbaijan and Armenia have agreed to join the board, along with many others.