Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has announced plans to “open” the Zangezur Corridor, a crucial passage that runs through Armenian territory.
This area separates Azerbaijan from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani enclave bordered by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Securing control of the Zangezur Corridor would provide Azerbaijan with a direct land connection to Turkey.
“They (Armenia) should not act as a geographical barrier between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Zangezur Corridor must and will be opened. The sooner they understand this, the better,” Aliyev stated.
In a series of confrontational remarks, Aliyev further denounced Armenia, labeling it a “fascist state” and calling for the eradication of fascism in Armenia. “Fascism in Armenia must be destroyed. It will be destroyed either by the leadership of Armenia or by us,” he declared.
Aliyev also urged France and other nations to cease their arms supplies to Armenia, describing the flow of weapons to Armenia as a source of regional instability. He set this as a “condition” for peace in the region, emphasizing, “Arming Armenia will only lead to new tensions. We do not want that. We want peace. Armenia is, in fact, a source of threat to the region.”
Additionally, Aliyev called for constitutional amendments in Armenia to facilitate the signing of a peace agreement. He warned that if Armenia refuses to sign, Baku would be unwilling to engage in negotiations as well.
Aliyev also expressed a desire to strengthen Azerbaijan’s relations with the United States, especially in light of the power shift in Washington. He pointed to “very clear, open messages” from former President Donald Trump and expressed optimism about advancing Azerbaijani-American relations to a “strategic level,” stating, “Therefore, hopes are high, including the possibility of bringing Azerbaijani-American relations closer to a strategic level.”
