Trump’s Peace Deals in His Second Term: From Nagorno-Karabakh to the Red Sea
Since returning to the White House in 2025, President Donald Trump has made high-profile diplomacy a key part of his second term. In just a few months, his administration has brokered a series of peace agreements and ceasefires—some hailed as historic breakthroughs, others still hanging in the balance.
August 2025: Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Accord
On August 8, 2025, Trump hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Washington, D.C., where they signed a landmark agreement to end decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The deal includes border demarcation, security cooperation, and economic integration. Most notably, the U.S. secured a 99-year development lease over the Zangezur corridor, rebranded as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)—a strategic transit route linking Asia and Europe.
June 2025: DRC–Rwanda Washington Accord
In a U.S.- and Qatar-brokered deal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed the Washington Accord on June 27, 2025.
Key points include:
- Rwandan troop withdrawal from eastern Congo within 90 days
- DRC ending support for the FDLR militia
- Plans for cross-border economic development
May 2025: Yemen–U.S. Ceasefire
On May 6, 2025, Trump announced a ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, mediated by Oman. The U.S. halted airstrikes in exchange for an end to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. While the agreement excluded Israel from the ceasefire terms, both sides claimed victory in the narrative.
Early 2025: Gaza Hostage Ceasefire
Before Trump’s official return to the Oval Office, his envoy Steven Witkoff helped broker a phased Gaza ceasefire that allowed the release of several hostages and temporary pauses in fighting. However, by March, the truce collapsed, and violence resumed.
March 2025: Ukraine Partial Truce
In March, Trump negotiated a 30-day limited ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, halting attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. While it didn’t extend to a broader peace agreement, it was seen as a rare moment of cooperation during the war.
An August 15, 2025 summit in Alaska is now planned between Trump and Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible long-term settlement—a proposal that remains controversial in Ukraine.
Trump’s Peace Timeline in 2025
| Month | Region | Key Development |
| Jan–Feb | Gaza | Temporary ceasefire and hostage release |
| Mar | Ukraine | 30-day energy ceasefire |
| May | Yemen | U.S.–Houthi ceasefire |
| Jun | DRC–Rwanda | Washington Accord peace treaty |
| Aug | Armenia–Azerbaijan | TRIPP peace agreement and transit corridor |
| Aug | Russia–Ukraine | Alaska peace summit planned |
A Presidency Defined by Peace Talks?
In less than a year, Trump’s second term has produced more high-profile peace deals than many presidents manage in a full term. Critics argue some agreements are fragile and politically motivated, but supporters see a clear pattern: Trump is positioning himself as a global dealmaker.
Whether these accords stand the test of time—or unravel under political and regional pressures—will determine how history remembers his second term.
