The United States wants to control the Zangezur corridor in Armenia. What you need to know

The United States offers to lease the territory of Armenia for the organization of the Zangezur Corridor— a highway connecting two divided parts of Azerbaijan. This issue is also of concern to Turkey, which wants to receive direct transit to Baku. Yerevan refused, although it had previously offered foreign intermediaries to restore the ties lost after the collapse of the USSR. What is known about the prospects of the Zangezur corridor is in the Izvestia article.

What is the Zangezur Corridor?

• The Zangezur Corridor usually refers to a proposed transport highway that would connect the main territory of Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic through the Syunik region of Armenia. The two parts of the same state are separated by an Armenian territory approximately 35-40 km wide, running from north to south along the Zangezur range.

• Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, several highways and railways could be reached from one territory of the Azerbaijan SSR to another. However, with the outbreak of the First Karabakh War in 1992, communication through Armenia was discontinued. Communication between Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Republic, which is home to almost half a million people, is carried out by air or through Iran.

• Following the results of the First Karabakh War, which lasted until 1994, the Azerbaijani authorities lost access to the border with the Syunik region. The territory to the east of it actually remained under the control of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) until 2020, when the Second Karabakh War began.

• During the 44-day conflict, the Azerbaijani army reached the southern section of the border with the Syunik region, and under the ceasefire agreement, it gained control of the entire border with the exception of the Lachin corridor, which continued to connect the NKR with Armenia. In 2024, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ceased to exist, and its entire territory came under the control of Azerbaijan.

Prospects of the Zangezur Corridor

• The ceasefire agreement that ended the Second Karabakh War included a clause that gave grounds for the organization of the Zangezur Corridor. It stipulates that all economic and transport links in the conflict zone will be unblocked. Armenia will guarantee the safety of transport links between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan for the unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions. The agreement stipulated that the parties could build new transport communications, and Russian border guards would monitor the communication.

• However, the parties have not yet agreed on a specific route for the Zangezur corridor. The idea of providing its territory for unhindered communication between the territories of Azerbaijan is not supported in Armenia. Baku is striving to organize such a corridor and is actively building access roads to the western and eastern borders of Armenia, assuming that the highway will run parallel to the border with Iran.

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• Not only Azerbaijan, but also Turkey is interested in the organization of the Zangezur corridor. It borders the Nakhichevan Republic and through it could receive direct communication with the main part of Azerbaijan. Armenia could also take advantage of the future highway, as the country is now virtually isolated and has no access to either Turkey or Azerbaijan, despite the common borders.

• The likelihood that Armenia and Azerbaijan will agree on the creation of a corridor becomes higher as they approach the signing of a peace treaty. It was agreed back in March 2025, but has not yet been signed due to Baku's demand to amend the Armenian Constitution so that the mention of Nagorno-Karabakh disappears from there, which may not take place until 2026 at the earliest. On July 10, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held their first direct talks, which is perceived as a step towards a peace treaty.

Control of the Zangezur corridor

• In addition to the route and logistics, it remains unclear under whose control the Zangezur corridor will be located. Yerevan insists on its sovereignty and wants to independently monitor transit through its territory and perform the functions of customs, passport control and security. In addition, back in March, Pashinyan recalled that the road that leads directly from Azerbaijan to Turkey, bypassing the Syunik region, has already been built and is waiting for the opportunity to launch. The leadership of the republic does not want to limit itself to the Zangezur corridor, but promotes the idea of a "crossroads of the world", which will include other transport routes.

• Azerbaijan insists that the construction of the Zangezur corridor in the south of the Syunik region should be a priority. He is supported in this by Turkey, which is waiting for the launch of direct communication with its ally. At the same time, Baku does not want to completely give Yerevan control over the corridor, fearing violation of agreements in the event of a change of power in Armenia.

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Why has the agreement not been concluded yet and how can Turkey influence it?

• The solution may be to involve foreign intermediaries. Back in 2022, Armenia proposed outsourcing the functions of passport, customs and other control of passengers and cargo to an international specialized organization. Russia and Georgia tried to conclude a similar agreement in 2018, hoping to attract the Swiss operator SGS to organize transit through South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but the latter's leadership did not accept these conditions at that time.

• Currently, the United States is actively applying for the role of mediator. The administration of President Donald Trump has proposed its own plan, according to which the parties should transfer control of transport routes to an American company. Such a proposal became known through sources, but its specific outlines were not announced.

However, Washington's intentions have been confirmed. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed that the American company is ready to take over the functions of the operator of the Zangezur corridor. It should also give an impetus to the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, bringing them closer to a peace agreement. Barrack noted that the United States could lease for 100 years a piece of land necessary for the construction of the highway. Official Yerevan rejected this option, calling it impossible to transfer control of its sovereign territory to another party.