Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is set to visit Türkiye on Friday in what officials are describing as a historic moment in the long-fraught relationship between the two neighboring nations.

The trip, made at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, marks the first official bilateral visit by an Armenian head of government to Türkiye.

Armenian officials see the visit as a significant diplomatic step in ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and promote long-term stability in the South Caucasus. "This is a historic visit, as it will be the first time a head of the Republic of Armenia visits Türkiye at this level. All regional issues will be discussed," said Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy, noting, "The risks of war [with Azerbaijan] are currently minimal, and we must work to neutralize them. Pashinyan’s visit to Türkiye is a step in that direction."

The visit builds upon previous gestures of rapprochement between the two countries. While Pashinyan attended Erdoğan’s inauguration ceremony in 2023, this marks his first official bilateral mission to Türkiye. Since 2021, both Ankara and Yerevan have appointed special envoys to lead normalization talks. In 2022, commercial flights resumed after years of suspension, signaling gradual progress in ties.

However, past efforts have stumbled. A 2009 agreement to open the long-closed border failed to materialize and was officially abandoned by Armenia in 2018. Whether this new diplomatic engagement leads to lasting normalization or remains largely symbolic will depend on follow-up actions and the political will on both sides.

The broader regional context — including Armenian-Azerbaijani tensions and the evolving geopolitical landscape — will likely shape the outcomes of the visit. (ILKHA)