BREAKING: Trump hosts leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan for peace deal signing

"It’s a long time, 35 years they fought and now they’re friends, and they’re going to be friends for a long time," Trump said. "But it’s a big, beautiful honor to welcome everyone to the White House for this very historic peace summit between Armenia and Azerbaijan."

He congratulated the two leaders, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, "for coming to Washington to sign this momentous joint declaration. It’s a tremendously important document and it's been a long time coming."

"For more than 35 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought a bitter conflict that resulted in tremendous suffering for both nations. They suffered gravely for so many years. Many tried to find a resolution, including the European Union. The Russians worked very hard on it, never happened. Sleepy Joe Biden tried, but you know what happened there? He tried for probably 12 minutes and didn’t work out," said Trump.

Under the agreement, Trump said, "Armenia and Azerbaijan are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel, and diplomatic relations, and respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He later added, "Very importantly, we have also resolved the key issue that foiled previous negotiations. This declaration establishes what they are calling—a great honor for me, I didn’t ask for this—the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which is a special transit area that will allow Azerbaijan full access to its territory of Nakhchivan, while fully respecting Armenia’s sovereignty. So they’re going to be able to really live and work together."

"Armenia is also creating an exclusive partnership with the United States to develop this corridor, which could extend for up to 99 years," he said, later adding, "but we anticipate significant infrastructure development by American companies."

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