Mutual understanding in regional processes will lead to greater stability and peace, says analyst
3 minute read
A leading analyst has credited the August 8 Washington accords with making mid-term and long-term regional processes more predictable.
Armen Petrosyan, an expert on regional affairs and chief adviser to the Director of the Public Relations and Information Center at the Prime Minister’s Office, said during the Armenpress Podcast program that a new situation in terms of substance has emerged in the South Caucasus following the Washington accords.
On the one hand, he said, the role of the United States, and on the other, the steps taken by Armenia and Azerbaijan toward strengthening peace, as well as the positions of Türkiye, Russia, and Iran, bring a certain degree of clarity to the situation.
“At present, there is an exceptionally large amount of work to be done by both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as a convergence of approaches is noticeable with regard to keeping the situation in the South Caucasus manageable and preventing the formation of a conflict-prone environment that could actively draw external actors into regional processes. Nevertheless, there is a clear trend toward the formation of a peace-oriented environment, the aim of which is to make the South Caucasus a beneficial and attractive region for all, from the perspective of transport links, energy projects, and the convergence of geopolitical interests,” Petrosyan said.
Summing up 2025, the expert addressed not only developments in the South Caucasus region, but also the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the continuing Russia–Ukraine war. During the program, he discussed the factors that could contribute to the resolution of these conflicts, placing particular emphasis on the mediating and peacebuilding role of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Petrosyan’s forecast, 2026 will be an exceptionally important and pivotal year, primarily due to progress in the implementation of regional megaprojects. Concrete steps and actions will follow the negotiation phases, and if there is mutual understanding between all interested parties around the processes, the stable environment and peace will be further strengthened.