Abu Dhabi Summit Reignites Progress on Zangezur Corridor

Executive Summary:

• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Abu Dhabi on July 10 for their first direct bilateral talks without mediators. Discussions included renewed momentum on the development of the Zangezur Corridor.
• Both Baku and Yerevan agreed on a continued dialogue and explored innovative solutions to the route’s development, including considerations for international management of the corridor.
• If a comprehensive agreement emerges, it could unlock an era of cooperation and development, with the Zangezur Corridor as a cornerstone of new transit integration between the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe.

The July 10 meeting in Abu Dhabi between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reinvigorated discussions on the long-sought Zangezur Corridor. Hosted by the United Arab Emirates as a neutral venue, the summit marked the first direct bilateral talks between the two leaders without mediators—a notable development given Russia’s traditional role in the South Caucasus peace process (see EDM, July 17). While no final peace accord was signed, the talks were described as constructive, with extensive discussions on key sticking points, foremost among them the opening and development of the Zangezur Corridor (Modern Diplomacy, July 13; Aze.media, July 20). This 43-kilometer-long (around 26-mile-long) corridor—a proposed land route through Armenia’s Syunik province—is designed to link mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave and then proceed onward to Türkiye (see EDM, October 11, 2023, April 15, September 12, 2024). While short on immediate breakthroughs, the Abu Dhabi summit’s outcomes have nevertheless revived prospects for the corridor’s realization, notably by reaffirming a bilateral, results-oriented negotiation format and entertaining new ideas for its governance and security. 

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan emerged from the Abu Dhabi talks voicing cautious optimism about the peace process. In separate statements, the foreign ministries confirmed that bilateral negotiations are seen as “the most efficient format” for resolving outstanding issues, and the two sides agreed to continue “result-oriented dialogue” toward normalization (Anadolu Agency, July 10). Discussions covered the demarcation of their 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) joint border, with an agreement to maintain ongoing discussions at multiple levels (see EDM, July 17). The leaders agreed on additional confidence-building measures, while offering their gratitude to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed for his hospitality in facilitating the meeting (ARMENPRESS, July 10).

The Zangezur Corridor emerged as a central item on the agenda in Abu Dhabi, signaling a renewed focus on this issue at the highest levels. According to Azerbaijan’s account of the talks, Aliyev and Pashinyan held extensive discussions on both the opening and development of the corridor, as well as the finalization of a comprehensive peace agreement (APA, July 10). This marks a significant development. After years of stagnation, the corridor concept has returned to the spotlight, now backed by renewed political engagement. The two leaders’ first face-to-face encounter since agreeing on a draft peace text in March 2025 created an opportunity for each side to present its positions on the corridor (Al Jazeera, March 13; see EDM, March 24). 

Aliyev has consistently presented the Zangezur Corridor as a strategic imperative for Azerbaijan, outlining firm and unambiguous demands concerning its legal status, access provisions, and operational control. These demands have been repeatedly emphasized in his public speeches, media interviews, and official Azerbaijani statements since the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War in 2020 (President of Azerbaijan, June 13, 2023, January 28, July 19). Azerbaijan argues that the Zangezur Corridor is a legal obligation for Armenia under Point 9 of the Russia-brokered ceasefire that halted the war. The point stipulates that “all economic and transport links in the region shall be restored,” allowing Azerbaijan to connect with Nakhchivan via Armenian territory (Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, November 10, 2020; President of Azerbaijan, January 7). It is presented not only as a national priority but also as a core component of Azerbaijan’s contributions to regional peacebuilding and economic cooperation.

Notably, officials signaled openness to innovative solutions for corridor security and management. Ahead of the summit, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan stated that Yerevan is “not opposed to outsourcing certain functions to a licensed international company” for managing regional transit, so long as Armenia’s sovereignty over its territory is upheld (AZERNEWS, July 10; ARMENPRESS, July 10). This aligns with recent reports that Western actors have proposed placing the Zangezur route under international oversight, potentially through a third-party logistics company tasked with managing and monitoring cargo transit along the corridor (Middle East Eye; TREND, July 14; Caspian Post, July 18). Such ideas represent a shift away from the original 2020 Russian-brokered ceasefire model, which had envisaged Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) border guards controlling the route (see EDM, May 24, 2021, July 9, September 12, 2024).

While the Abu Dhabi summit did not produce a dramatic breakthrough, it solidified a new momentum in negotiations. The Armenian Foreign Ministry assessed the meeting as “successful” and a “serious basis for advancing the peace process” (Armenian Foreign Ministry, July 10; Report.az, July 11). By agreeing to keep talks bilateral and constructive, and by explicitly tackling the transport link issue, Aliyev and Pashinyan have effectively revived the Zangezur Corridor concept from what had previously been understood to be a diplomatic standstill (Caliber.az, July 10). In the words of UAE Presidential Adviser Dr. Anwar Gargash, hosting the talks was itself a “positive step toward lasting peace,” underscoring the United Arab Emirates’s role in building bridges and promoting diplomacy in the Caucasus. The stage is now set for detailed negotiations on how the corridor might be implemented—if at all—in a manner that reconciles the two sides’ core demands (The National News, July 10; Khaleej Times, July 11).

The renewed focus on the Zangezur Corridor marks a pivotal moment, aligning with intensified efforts by Brussels, Beijing, and regional states to expand the Middle Corridor (see EDM, June 15, 2023, October 28, 2024, January 28, June 9; see China Brief, June 21, 2024). This vital intercontinental trade channel currently transports goods from Central Asia and China westward through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye (Baku Dialogues, 2022). By shortening and diversifying route options, the Zangezur Corridor can significantly enhance the capacity and resilience of trans-Eurasian logistics and trade networks. With an initial cargo capacity estimated at 15 million tons, the Zangezur Corridor is widely regarded as “a crucial part of the East–West transport route,” offering significant potential to accelerate cargo movement from Central Asia and the Caspian Sea region to Europe (Caspian Policy Center, July 11, 2024; TREND, July 19). As Aliyev noted during the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum held on July 19–21, the operationalization of the Zangezur Corridor will create significant new opportunities to increase the volume of cargo transportation (TREND, July 19). He further claimed that if Armenia continues to obstruct the corridor’s opening, its chances of becoming a viable transit country will diminish to nearly zero (AZERNEWS, July 19).

The Zangezur Corridor’s fate is now intrinsically linked to the broader Azerbaijan–Armenia peace trajectory. If a comprehensive agreement emerges, it could unlock an era of cooperation and development, with the Zangezur Corridor as a cornerstone of new transit integration between the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe. The Abu Dhabi summit has shown that with the right diplomatic support, the two sides can inch closer to resolving this dispute. The coming period will reveal whether the discussions held in Abu Dhabi can translate into tangible outcomes, knitting together a region long shaped by global trade and deep-seated enmity into a corridor of peace and prosperity.