Turkish Expert: Azerbaijan and Armenia leaders’ Washington meeting offers significant opportunity for regional reconciliation

The outcomes of the meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States at the White House could provide a significant opportunity for normalizing relations in the region, promising substantial economic benefits for Türkiye’s eastern provinces. Addressing the issue of terrorism and normalizing regional relations will lay the foundation for a new developmental breakthrough in this part of Türkiye’s territory, according to Enes Bayraklı, Vice President of the Türkiye Research Foundation and professor at the Turkish-German University (TAU).

According to Bayraklı, claims that Turkey would be harmed by the U.S. involvement in South Caucasus transport projects are baseless. “In international relations, the key is to establish a proper balance and skillfully manage relations. Ankara should steer the processes in the South Caucasus toward its own interests,” Bayraklı stated.

The professor noted that one positive outcome of the White House meeting is the reduction of France’s influence in the South Caucasus. He believes that the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group will deprive Paris of a tool to exert influence in the region.