Armenia Declares Readiness to Open Turkish Border

In a landmark announcement signalling a dramatic shift in regional geopolitics, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared on Wednesday that his country is prepared to open its long-sealed border with Turkey for freight transit. The move, part of a broader push for regional connectivity, promises to reshape trade routes and diplomatic ties in the South Caucasus after decades of hostility and economic isolation.

Pashinyan’s remarks were delivered at the 2025 Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, where he also welcomed a parallel move by Azerbaijan to lift trade restrictions. According to a report by OC Media, the Armenian leader hailed the developments as part of a larger project to unlock regional transit and cargo connections. This follows an intensive peace process that saw a historic, U.S.-brokered agreement initialled by Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in August.

“We are ready, not only politically but also technically, starting today, to ensure the transit of freight trucks through Armenian territory from Turkey to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Turkey,” Pashinyan stated, offering a concrete and immediate timeline for the historic reopening. The border between Armenia and Turkey has been closed since the early 1990s, severing a critical economic artery and deepening regional divisions.

The Prime Minister's announcement was buoyed by a significant step from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who a day earlier had lifted his country's trade embargo on Armenia. Pashinyan praised the decision, calling it an “extremely important announcement” and noting that the transit of goods from Azerbaijan to Armenia—with the first shipment of Kazakh grain already planned—would have been “unthinkable” just a few months prior. “I would like to express my appreciation to the President of Azerbaijan for this step and to welcome the statement,” he added.

While the Turkey-Azerbaijan land bridge via Armenia is poised to begin, Pashinyan acknowledged that other critical links, such as the route connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, require substantial work. This connection, known as the Trump Route or TRIPP, is a cornerstone of the peace framework. “Technically, we are not yet ready due to the lack of infrastructure,” he admitted, particularly referencing the need for major restoration of rail lines. He expressed confidence, however, that these “technical issues will be resolved within the next two to three years.” 

Photo: Gemini AI