Azerbaijan Completes Military Gains, Advances South Caucasus Peace Architecture

The South Caucasus region has undergone significant changes over the past five years, particularly due to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, which escalated dramatically in 2020 with military provocations by Armenia and a decisive Azerbaijani counteroffensive. Despite a recent meeting convened by President Donald Trump with Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders in Washington, the resulting Joint Declaration has been criticized for lacking substantive commitments, such as the failure to address Azerbaijan's demand to remove Nagorno-Karabakh references from Armenia’s constitution and ignoring ongoing border disputes. The declaration’s vague affirmation of territorial integrity without specifying withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied Armenian territories raises concerns that it may merely endorse the status quo rather than foster peace. Additionally, the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, historically responsible for mediating the conflict, was agreed upon, though its future role remains unclear. Meanwhile, travel experiences in Armenia’s Syunik region highlight the area's cultural and historical significance amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. These developments reflect the complex and fragile nature of peace efforts and regional dynamics in the South Caucasus.