Context: Armenia and Azerbaijan officials have agreed on the text of a peace agreement to end nearly four decades of conflict between the South Caucasus countries. Armenia has agreed to surrender its claim over the primarily Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Location of Nagorno-Karabakh region.
About Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
- It is a long-standing territorial and ethnic dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a landlocked mountainous area in the South Caucasus.
- The region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but has a majority ethnic Armenian population that has sought self-rule. The conflict has led to multiple wars, ceasefires, and international interventions.
Historical Background:
Soviet Era (1920s-1988)
- 1921: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin placed Nagorno-Karabakh under Azerbaijani control, despite its Armenian majority, as part of the divide-and-rule strategy.
- Soviet Rule: Ethnic tensions remained dormant under Soviet control, but grievances persisted.
First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988-1994):
- 1988: As the Soviet Union weakened, ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh demanded unification with Armenia.
- 1991: Following the collapse of the USSR, full-scale war erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- 1994: The war ended with a ceasefire, brokered by Russia, known as the Bishkek Protocol.
- Outcome: Armenia took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani districts. Over 30,000 people died, and nearly 1 million people were displaced (mostly Azerbaijanis).
Period of Ceasefire (1994-2020)
- Despite the 1994 ceasefire, frequent border skirmishes occurred. Diplomatic efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, U.S., France) failed to achieve a permanent solution.
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020)
- September 2020: Azerbaijan launched a major military offensive to reclaim lost territories. Turkey provided military support to Azerbaijan, supplying drones and military advisors.
- November 2020: After six weeks of fighting, Azerbaijan regained much of its lost territory, including the strategic city of Shusha.
- Russia brokered a ceasefire, deploying 1,960 Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Outcome of the 2020 War: Azerbaijan reclaimed seven surrounding districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia suffered a political crisis, with protests against the government’s handling of the war
2023 Azerbaijani Offensive & Armenian Withdrawal:
- September 2023: Azerbaijan launched a final military operation, fully capturing Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Over 100,000 Armenians fled, effectively ending Armenian claims over the region. The self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh’s Armenian administration) dissolved itself.
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Agreement (2025)
- March 2025: Both nations signed a peace treaty, recognising each other’s sovereignty.
- Armenia has accepted Azerbaijan’s control over Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Both nations agreed to establish diplomatic relations and restore trade routes. The border demarcation process has been initiated.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has shaped the geopolitics of the South Caucasus for decades. The 2025 peace agreement provides a framework for long-term stability in the region. India has always encouraged the parties to move forward on ensuring long-term peace and security through dialogue and diplomacy.