Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized a peace agreement, ending nearly four decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed region in the South Caucasus.
About the Peace Agreement
The newly finalized peace agreement aims to:
Officially end hostilities and establish diplomatic relations.
Confirm Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.
Resolve border disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Address demands for territorial access, such as Azerbaijan’s request for a corridor to Nakhchivan (Azerbaijani enclave).
Relevancy for India
Strategic trade route: Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a key Indian trade route.
Diplomatic balance: India has avoided taking sides but supports a peaceful resolution via the OSCE Minsk Group.
Geopolitical stability: A stable South Caucasus benefits global trade and security
What is Nagorno-Karabakh?
It is a mountainous region of about 4,400 sq km (1,700 sq miles).
Historically, it home to Christian Armenians and Muslim Azerbaijanis. Now, it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but previously governed by its Armenian majority.
The dispute: During the Soviet era, Nagorno-Karabakh was an autonomous region within Azerbaijan. But as the USSR collapsed in the late 1980s, its Armenian population wanted to join Armenia, leading to a violent conflict.