Azerbaijan marks its Remembrance Day looking forward to a future of peace

Azerbaijan marks the annual Remembrance Day with a nationwide tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives during the 44-day war in 2020, but also with a renewed hope brought by the historic peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, after decades of bitter conflict.

The events of that autumn in 2020 changed the 30-year status quo generated by the dissolution of the Soviet Union which had brought decades of deep-rooted conflict and regional stagnation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The cessation of hostilities in November 2020 reshaped the strategic landscape of the region establishing a new political framework which culminated with the two former rivals reaching a peace agreement which includes borders delimitation, the start of a reconciliation process, but also kickstarting an economic expansion and launching new regional transport corridors for global opportunities.

Six years after the end of the war, this legacy has transitioned from post-war recovery into active regional integration and development. The true dividends of this hard-won peace are now materialising not just in diplomatic halls, but on the ground, fundamentally altering the economic landscape of the South Caucasus.

Opening the railways

The most visible sign of this evolving relationship is the movement of rail freight, and following the lifting of transit restrictions by Azerbaijan in late 2025, a steady flow of cargo has travelled towards Armenia.

Routed primarily via Azerbaijan Railways from Bilajari station towards the Boyuk Kasik junction at the Georgian border, shipments move into Armenia.

This transport artery facilitates both direct bilateral sales and international transit and has established a new economic dynamic.

According to state customs data, direct exports from Azerbaijan to Armenia between January and August 2026 reached over $17 million (over €15 million). While this accounts for just 0.08% of Azerbaijan's total global exports, the physical volume is substantial.

Direct shipments have included approximately 17,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and roughly 5,000 tonnes of AI-92 and AI-95 petrol.

The trade even saw a brief reciprocal exchange, with Azerbaijan recording a symbolic $960 in imports from Armenia in March.

The route also serves as a vital corridor for third-country transit.

Recent freight shifted around Azerbaijani territory includes nearly 60,000 tonnes of agricultural products, such as wheat, barley, and buckwheat, alongside more than 9,000 tonnes of fertiliser and over 1,400 tonnes of propane gas.

Industrial materials are also moving steadily through the corridor, comprising 1,114 tonnes of coal, 608 tonnes of timber, and 133 tonnes of aluminium.

A new era of digital transit

Beyond physical rail freight, bilateral cooperation has achieved significant progress in the digital domain. The two countries have implemented a digital transit agreement between national operators AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia.

Under this arrangement, a portion of Armenia’s international internet traffic is routed across Azerbaijan. Both companies noted that such agreements aim at "diversifying connection routes in the region" and "increasing the reliability of telecommunication networks".

This cooperation also aligns with broader regional infrastructure goals, including the Digital Silk Way project. In return, the arrangement allows Azerbaijan to transmit data traffic to its Nakhchivan exclave directly through the Armenian telecommunications network.

Restoring infrastructure

Both countries are laying the groundwork for expanding multi-directional transit. While physical exports from Armenia across Azerbaijani territory are not yet active, official frameworks anticipate future integration.

The Armenian government’s state programme for 2026 to 2031 outlines plans to build full-scale commercial ties with Azerbaijan and unblock regional transport links following a final peace treaty.

Meanwhile, regional transport infrastructure is being restored rapidly, including ongoing railway construction in the Ordubad direction.

Once a comprehensive peace agreement is finalised, the full opening of transport corridors is expected to enable Armenia to utilise Azerbaijan's transit network for broader international trade, establishing a fully interconnected economic corridor across the South Caucasus.

A historic summit in Washington

This deepening economic integration is underpinned by key high-level diplomatic milestones.

The strategic framework for the current bilateral political process was formalised on 8 August 2025 during a historic trilateral summit in Washington.

Hosted at the White House by US President Donald Trump, the meeting brought together Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who signed the joint declaration for the comprehensive peace agreement.

Building trust towards reconciliation

Meanwhile, the normalisation process is also extending beyond state-level diplomacy and taking root at the community and institutional levels.

Armenia supported Azerbaijan’s successful bid to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, while Azerbaijan supported Armenia’s candidacy for membership in the Eastern European Group COP Bureau.

In April 2026, the "Peace Bridge" format facilitated a fourth round of dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani civil society representatives in the town of Gabala.

Participants from both nations emphasised the importance of crossing borders and maintaining consistent dialogue to prepare their respective societies for the eventual outcomes of a final peace treaty.

Furthermore, civil engagement is progressing alongside the joint development of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a transit corridor through Armenia's Syunik region that connects Azerbaijan directly to its Nakhchivan exclave.

On 18 September 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was awarded the Hessian Peace Prize during a formal ceremony at the Hesse State Parliament in Wiesbaden, Germany.

The award recognises efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus and has provided a platform for a notable diplomatic gesture.

During the ceremony, Pashinyan publicly expressed his gratitude for the peace process with Azerbaijan. Acknowledging the leaders' joint efforts, the Armenian prime minister stated that the Azerbaijani president was "equally deserving of this award" for his contribution to regional peace.