The past year has been a period of intense contacts and practical steps towards normalizing relations for both countries.
In 2026, the process of normalizing interactions between Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue, according to forecasts from the Anadolu Ajansı news agency.
A key event was the meeting held on August 8, 2025, in Washington, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration with the mediation of the U.S. President. The foreign ministers of both countries also initialed a peace agreement, confirming the parties' commitment to ending conflicts and improving relations.
Throughout the year, measures were taken to strengthen mutual trust, including Azerbaijan lifting restrictions on cargo transportation to Armenia. This contributed to the development of regional trade and transport routes and marked an important step in starting the export of Azerbaijani oil to Armenia.
An important project within the normalization framework is the "Trump Road for Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), also known as the "Zangezur Corridor." This project, aimed at connecting mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan, is expected to begin the construction phase in Armenia in 2026, which will strengthen transport and trade links in the region.
The political and diplomatic situation has also changed, particularly with the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, which had failed to achieve significant results on the Karabakh issue for many years. This step underscores that the "Karabakh issue" is no longer relevant, and the parties are eager to address matters directly and in a bilateral format.
Contacts between the parties continued, including discussions on border delineation and the opening of transport routes. Civil society groups also conducted mutual visits.
A significant event in Armenia will be the comprehensive elections scheduled for 2026. If the party led by Pashinyan wins, the process of constitutional change may begin. In this context, a referendum aimed at removing territorial claims to Azerbaijan from the Constitution will be an important step towards finalizing the peace agreement.
In 2026, the process of normalization is expected to deepen. Key priorities include finalizing the peace agreement, legally formalizing borders, and expanding economic cooperation.
The expansion of initiatives in energy, transport, and trade should contribute to the establishment of sustainable relations between the two countries based on peace.
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