Link to the article: https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/azerbaijan-armenia-normalization-push-set-to-carry-into-2026/news?
The article explains how Armenia and Azerbaijan are continuing efforts to achieve lasting peace and normalize relations after decades of conflict in the South Caucasus. In 2025, both countries increased diplomatic engagement, moving beyond political talks to practical confidence-building measures. A major breakthrough occurred in August when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Washington under U.S. mediation and signed a joint declaration committing to peace. Their foreign ministers also initiated a peace agreement, signaling progress toward normalization. Economic cooperation expanded as Azerbaijan eased cargo restrictions and began exporting oil to Armenia. Infrastructure initiatives, particularly the Trump Route to International Peace and Prosperity (Zangezur Corridor), aim to improve regional connectivity and are expected to begin construction in 2026. The dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group marked a shift away from international mediation toward direct bilateral negotiations. Looking ahead, border demarcation, constitutional changes in Armenia, and expanded trade are seen as key steps toward finalizing a comprehensive peace agreement and regional stability.
This is important because it shows how the long-lasting conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has come to an end, leading to compromise and peace building. I believe this is a step in the right direction and both countries have noticed that constant fighting just weakens them both. The involvement of the U.S. has definitely played a key role and can hopefully help leave this instability in the past. If this is successful, it could greatly reduce tensions within the region, opening up new paths for trade and making other countries realize that they aren’t as easy to exploit anymore.
Azerbaijan is likely going to try and push for cooperation, hoping to expand their influence throughout the region. They will also probably try to work towards border agreements, wanting to establish recognition and security around their territory. Armenia does seem to have elections soon, so they will probably proceed with more caution, aiming towards their own stability first before the regions. The United States can, and probably will, stay in the middle of this to ensure there is an agreement that is agreed upon. It seems that they don’t want other countries such as Russia to take advantage of this instability, so they will do whatever they can to stop it.
This connects to class because it shows the importance of geopolitics and how the South Caucasus is a huge area for transportation and trade. The U.S. is involved with this conflict because, on the global level, by helping with the instability, it could limit the invasions of larger countries like Russia. On a regional level, the U.S. believes that by promoting stability, they could gain access to more resources and transportation routes. This could benefit their economy and also their ability to watch over other powerful countries. The U.S. believed that this conflict was growing, motivating bigger countries such as Russia to take advantage.