Armenia signals new chance for Türkiye ties

Armenia and Azerbaijan push for a lasting peace with hopeful talk of normalization involving Türkiye.

Armenia eyes Türkiye deal after historic peace talks with Azerbaijan

Armenia's deputy foreign minister, Vahan Kostanyan, described Friday's White House trilateral summit with Azerbaijan and the United States as an historic turning point in Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization. He cited three memoranda between Armenia and the U.S. on capacity building for Armenia's Crossroads of Peace project, cooperation in artificial intelligence and semiconductors, and energy collaboration. Kostanyan said the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement initialed in March had now been formalized, and he noted the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group and the joint declaration witnessed by President Trump as markers of a new stage in regional diplomacy. He framed the day as a milestone for both Armenia-Azerbaijan ties and a broader strategic partnership with Washington.

On Türkiye, Kostanyan suggested a path forward for regional connectivity if communications with Ankara could be relaunched and the Turkish-Armenian border reopened with diplomatic ties restored. He said Turkey's earlier statements encouraging peace had a positive influence on normalization and highlighted Ankara's role in supporting Azerbaijan. Türkiye welcomed the Washington progress as a significant step toward lasting peace in the South Caucasus, signaling it would contribute to seizing the opportunity. The plan for the TRIPP project would connect Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia, with Armenia and the U.S. developing the project on Armenian territory after technical discussions. The historical backdrop includes Türkiye's 1991 recognition of Armenia’s independence followed by a 1993 border closure; the thaw since the 2020 Karabakh war remains fragile, with reopening still uncertain and dependent on broader reconciliation.

The talks signal a new approach to a long simmering dispute, using U.S. mediation as a spine for broader regional commerce and diplomacy. If the connectivity project gains traction, it could shift regional trade patterns and lessen bottlenecks that have long constrained growth. Yet the path is risky: domestic opposition in all three countries, lingering historical grievances, and the need for credible, verifiable steps to keep momentum. The focus on technology and energy shows a shift from purely territorial deals to economic gateways, but the success will hinge on sustained political will and concrete actions rather than statements at the White House. The coming weeks will reveal whether this momentum can translate into a real opening of borders and a reliable framework for cross-border travel and trade.

Highlights

The region now faces a test of will to turn promises into practical routes.