Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks remained stalled in February 2026 as the two South Caucasus nations failed to make progress on border demarcation and other key issues. The peace process, which had shown some promise following the 2023 Azerbaijani military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, has hit a hard wall over fundamental disagreements. Neither side appears willing to compromise on sovereignty questions that both governments have staked their political legitimacy upon.
The deadlock has raised concerns about renewed hostilities in a region that sits at the intersection of Russian, Turkish, and Western strategic interests. International mediators from the United States and European Union have continued to press for agreements, but without success. The fundamental issues of territorial control and the rights of ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan remain as far apart as ever.
We continue to work toward a comprehensive peace, but significant gaps remain between the parties on the core questions.
Border Demarcation Challenge
The technical process of marking the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan has proven politically impossible despite years of negotiations. Both countries claim the same territories along their shared border, and domestic politics on both sides make territorial compromises nearly impossible. The Soviet-era administrative boundaries provide no clear guidance as both sides reject using them as a basis.
Security Concerns
Armenia has expressed concerns about Azerbaijani military threats and has sought security guarantees as part of any peace agreement. Azerbaijan has rejected outside security arrangements that might limit its sovereignty. Russia maintains a military presence in Armenia through the CSTO alliance, though the relationship has become increasingly strained.