In June 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a rare visit to Turkey, meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul amid widespread criticism for conceding the Artsakh region to Azerbaijan. This followed a historic peace agreement brokered by the United States in August 2024. Armenia’s move reflects a strategic geopolitical realignment, enhancing military cooperation with the United States and leveraging its geographic position between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Georgia to become a key regional communication hub in the Caucasus.

Armenia recognized that Russia’s preoccupation with the Ukraine war diminished its support in the ongoing conflict over Karabakh. Meanwhile, Turkey, maintaining neutrality between Russia and the West, capitalized on U.S. backing to resolve the Caucasus conflict favoring Baku. The agreement includes the creation of the Zangezur corridor, a 40 km strategic land route linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia, granting Azerbaijan unhindered access.

Despite initial Armenian resistance, the corridor places Yerevan on a vital regional transit line, integrating it into Eurasian connectivity. This shift distances Armenia from its traditional Russian ties, including religious links, and opens new avenues with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the United States. The rapprochement also encouraged Iran to strengthen ties with Armenia, signing agreements to develop transport infrastructure and facilitate transit via Gulf and Oman Sea logistics hubs, aiming to connect the Gulf with the Black Sea strategically.

Armenia stands to benefit economically and politically from these corridors, transforming from near international isolation to a pivotal transit point linking Asia and Europe. While this move sacrifices some historical grievances, it positions Armenia at the heart of international transit routes and geopolitical attention.