Zaur Ahmadov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Finland, underscores in Daily Finland that Finland’s OSCE Chairmanship comes at a historic moment, coinciding with landmark peace developments in the South Caucasus that are reshaping regional stability and international cooperation.
At the beginning of August, Washington witnessed a historic moment when the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, signed a joint declaration in the presence of U.S. President Donald J. Trump. The document confirmed a new framework for peace. At the same time, the foreign ministers initialled the peace treaty and jointly requested the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to terminate the Minsk Process, which had been established in 1992 to address the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Its foundations had already disappeared after 2020, when Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity.
What makes this especially symbolic is that the termination of the Minsk Process took place on September 1, 2025, during Finland’s OSCE Chairmanship. This historic decision strongly echoes the principles of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act - respect for state sovereignty and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders.
TRIPP and the Middle Corridor - New Routes to Europe
The most practical and far-reaching element of the peace process is the upcoming opening of all transport and communication links between the two countries. The most visionary element is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) - a direct and secure land connection between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Armenia.
TRIPP is not just a bilateral initiative. It forms a crucial link in the wider Middle Corridor, which connects Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and China without passing through geopolitically risky areas. This is already familiar to Finland: the Finnish company Nurminen Logistics has long been active on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (the Middle Corridor) and has contributed to its commercialization. Once TRIPP becomes operational, the overall capacity of the corridor will expand, creating new opportunities for Finnish companies through faster and more secure supply chains.
Nordic Experience as Inspiration
The South Caucasus will soon be seeking new models of cooperation. Once the peace treaty is definitively signed, the Nordic experience of regional collaboration and integration can serve as a valuable example. The Nordic model - based on openness, trust, and pragmatic cooperation - provides practical inspiration for how former adversaries can transform confrontation into constructive partnership.
Finland is widely recognized both as a major promoter of peace and as a hub of logistics and innovation. These two dimensions - peace-building and economic connectivity - make Finland and the South Caucasus natural partners.
Why Should This Matter to Finland?
First, stability. Peace in the South Caucasus reduces tensions and strengthens security in the Eastern neighbourhood of Europe, with direct impact on everyday life of Europeans.
Second, the economy. With the launch of TRIPP and the strengthening of the Middle Corridor, Finnish exporters will gain access to more diversified routes to Asia. This means new markets as well as shorter, safer, and more environmentally friendly transport connections.
Third, values. The peace process requires Armenia to amend its Constitution by removing all references to territorial claims against Azerbaijan. This step toward full respect for international law is in line with European values - at a time when territorial integrity is being seriously challenged in various parts of the world.
The breakthrough in Washington and the termination of the Minsk Process mark a new beginning. The region has moved from the geopolitical risk zone into a concrete peace framework, with the next steps already agreed. Therefore, the South Caucasus has now all the potential to become a bridge between Europe and Asia, opening doors for trade, cooperation, and cultural exchange.
