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Turkey and Armenia are embarking on a historic reconciliation, moving to end nearly 30 years of political and economic estrangement. The two neighboring countries are actively working to strengthen their relationship and build a new bridge of goodwill.

Lifting Sanctions and Opening Borders

Official Ankara has begun lifting previously imposed economic restrictions and sanctions against Armenia, initiating the process of opening closed border gates. This significant step follows Turkey's decision to shut its land border in 1993, after Armenian forces occupied Azerbaijan's Kalbajar district during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Since then, Armenia has faced a partial blockade, with the region experiencing a protracted frozen conflict for approximately thirty years.

A Turning Point in 2020

A notable shift occurred in the autumn of 2020 during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Turkey provided overt military support to Azerbaijan, supplying modern military equipment. Following the war, Azerbaijan regained its lost territories, and Turkey solidified its position as a new center of influence in the Caucasus.

Diplomatic Efforts and Renewed Ties

In late 2021, Ankara and Yerevan began seeking paths to reconciliation, appointing special envoys and engaging in negotiations. By 2022, Armenia lifted its embargo on Turkish goods and established direct air travel with Turkey. In 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. More recently, in March 2026, Turkish Airlines launched a direct Istanbul-Yerevan flight route.

Preparing for Direct Trade and Border Opening

On May 11, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Öncü Keçeli announced that preparations for direct trade between the two countries were complete and that work on opening the common border was ongoing. Previously, Turkish companies were prohibited from exporting to Armenia since the 1990s, forcing trade through third countries with added costs. The new regulations will allow businesses to openly declare "Seller – Turkey, Buyer – Armenia," providing a significant boost to formalized trade.

Optimism for Future Relations

Armenia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ani Badalyan, described these steps as crucial for developing normal relations between the countries, expressing confidence in the future opening of the border and the establishment of diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, Armenian Parliament Vice-Speaker Ruben Rubinyan reported progress on restoring railway communication between Gyumri and Kars, a line that has been inactive since 1993.

Rebuilding the Ani Bridge and Regional Benefits

As a symbolic gesture of normalizing relations, an agreement has been reached to jointly restore the historic Ani Bridge, which was damaged when the border closed in 1993. The restoration work is set to commence. Nigar Göksel, Director of the International Crisis Group, highlighted the mutually beneficial nature of this process, stating that opening the border will end Armenia's isolation and improve its population's well-being. It will also strengthen Turkey's role in the Caucasus and solidify Azerbaijan's connection with Nakhchivan, creating new opportunities in trade, logistics, tourism, and energy.

Furthermore, the "Zangezur Corridor" project is expected to enhance connectivity between Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave and its mainland via Armenia. This project is considered a segment of the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route), linking China with Europe.