Ankara — August 27, 2025
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has welcomed recent agreements reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the Washington declaration signed by Baku and the United States, describing them as creating “a very positive picture” for the wider South Caucasus.
In an interview with TGRT Haber, Fidan underlined that Azerbaijan had held consultations with Turkey ahead of the Washington talks. He stressed that Ankara continues to coordinate closely with Baku on strategic matters, including the future of the long-discussed Zangezur corridor.
“Our position on the Zangezur corridor is based on trust. At present, there is nothing concrete, but the sides will discuss what happens next and how it will develop. We trust our Azerbaijani brothers,” Fidan said, adding that he viewed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s stance on the issue as constructive.
Turkey’s Regional Strategy
Turkey has consistently positioned itself as Azerbaijan’s closest ally in the South Caucasus, playing a decisive role during and after the 2020 Karabakh war. Ankara views new transport and energy corridors as central to reshaping the regional map, linking Turkey directly to Azerbaijan and Central Asia through Nakhchivan.
The Zangezur corridor in particular has been a long-term priority for Ankara, seen not only as an economic project but as a geopolitical artery binding the Turkic world together. Fidan’s emphasis on “trust” reflects Turkey’s willingness to defer to Baku’s leadership while ensuring that its own strategic vision remains aligned.
U.S. Factor and Regional Balance
Fidan’s remarks also come in the wake of Azerbaijan’s deepening engagement with Washington. The Washington declaration between Azerbaijan and the U.S. has been interpreted as a sign of shifting alignments in the South Caucasus, with Baku balancing relations between Ankara, Moscow, Brussels, and Washington.
By describing the recent diplomatic moves as a “positive picture,” Ankara signals that it views U.S. involvement not as a threat but as a complementary force — one that may accelerate normalization between Baku and Yerevan and stabilize the region.
Outlook
While the details of the Zangezur corridor remain unresolved, Turkey’s framing of the current moment as an “opportunity” suggests that Ankara is preparing for a new phase of regional diplomacy. By praising Pashinyan’s position, Fidan also hinted at the possibility of a broader opening in Armenia–Turkey relations — a step long seen as dependent on progress between Yerevan and Baku.
In this context, Turkey is carefully positioning itself: as a guarantor of Azerbaijan’s interests, as a regional power broker, and as a bridge between the Caucasus and the wider international community.
