Abu Dhabi, July 10 — The recent meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Abu Dhabi is being hailed as one of the most significant diplomatic developments in the modern history of Armenia–Azerbaijan relations. More than a symbolic handshake, the encounter marked the beginning of a new, self-directed phase in the peace process — one without intermediaries, built upon mutual political will.
A New Phase: Direct Talks Without Mediation
What sets this meeting apart is its format. Unlike past dialogues brokered under the auspices of Brussels, Moscow, or Washington, the Abu Dhabi talks were entirely bilateral — free of third-party mediation or imposed frameworks. The United Arab Emirates, widely seen as a neutral and balanced actor, simply provided a platform for dialogue without playing a political role. This, analysts say, demonstrates a new diplomatic model that could form the foundation for long-term peace in the South Caucasus.
Defining Issues: Borders, Commitments, and the Zangezur Corridor
The meeting reportedly focused on border delimitation, political commitments, and the proposed Zangezur Corridor — a transport link seen by Azerbaijan as critical to the region’s geo-economic integration. Baku has repeatedly underlined the importance of the corridor not only for national interests but for broader regional connectivity. Significantly, Yerevan now appears willing to engage in serious discussions on the matter, signaling a shift in tone.
Azerbaijan’s Assertive Diplomacy Shapes the Process
This new format is a product of Azerbaijan’s consistent diplomatic stance, which has emphasized that peace must be negotiated directly between the two countries, without external interference. President Aliyev’s government has insisted that only the two parties involved in the conflict can resolve it, and Yerevan increasingly appears to accept this logic.
For years, international mediators struggled to move the peace process forward, often bogged down by diverging interests. In contrast, this direct engagement underscores Baku’s ability to set the terms of the dialogue, both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
Shared Realism in the Face of External Disruption
A notable outcome of the meeting is a mutual understanding of regional threats, including actors seeking to derail the peace process. Both sides now seem to recognize that stability and long-term development can only be achieved through pragmatic decision-making, not geopolitical brinkmanship.
This convergence may signal a regional shift away from external power plays and toward locally driven diplomacy, grounded in realism and shared interests.
Looking Ahead: Mapping the Road to Peace
While no peace treaty was signed in Abu Dhabi, the meeting laid out a clear pathway toward one. The principles of direct, transparent, and mediator-free negotiations now define the post-conflict phase in the South Caucasus. The fact that this process was initiated through Azerbaijan’s diplomatic initiative marks a turning point in regional dynamics.
The Abu Dhabi talks may well be remembered as the moment when vision, political will, and regional leadership aligned to move from ceasefire to lasting peace. The map to that future is being drawn — and its starting point was charted in Abu Dhabi.
