In a high-stakes meeting on Monday, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to the heart of the Caucasus, unleashing discussions that hinted at a provocative plan: the establishment of a land corridor connecting their two nations via Armenia. This audacious proposal, however, stands in stark opposition to Armenia’s staunch opposition.
Erdogan’s visit took him to Azerbaijan’s autonomous Nakhchivan exclave, a narrow stretch of territory ensconced amidst Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Both Ankara and Baku share a fervent desire to unite Nakhchivan with mainland Azerbaijan, envisioning the creation of a terrestrial passageway that traverses the southern expanses of Armenia.
The notion of this corridor is not a new one, as President Aliyev had already made veiled threats regarding its formation back in 2021. Such a corridor would ingeniously forge an unbroken land bridge between Turkey and Azerbaijan, simultaneously depriving Armenia of its vital land connection with Iran.
During a joint press conference, President Aliyev lamented the historical missteps of Soviet-era authorities, who delineated regions that rightfully belonged to the Azerbaijani Soviet republic as part of the Armenian Soviet republic. These past decisions continue to reverberate through the present, adding complexity to the ongoing territorial dynamics in the region.
By Reuters
