Azerbaijan-Armenia relations in the post-conflict period (2020-2024)

Following the conclusion of the war and the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, President I. Aliyev’s initiative to sign a peace treaty with Armenia remains relevant due to unresolved disputes that maintain tension in the region. The relevance of the topic is also due to the fact that regional stability and the development of communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia are strategically important factors in the process of signing a peace treaty. The main objective of the work was to analyse Azerbaijan’s foreign policy strategy in the post-conflict period and the prospects for signing a peace agreement in the context of the current geopolitical configuration. The study used retrospective and political analysis to trace the evolution of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations and interpret political decisions. The chronological arrangement of events contributed to a more detailed understanding of the prospects and possibilities of the negotiation process. It has been proven that regional development is possible provided that there are no mutual territorial claims between the parties. The desire of extra-regional actors to interfere in the settlement of the conflict has a negative impact on the situation, with France playing a destructive role by exacerbating tensions between regional countries. Any attempts to support revanchist sentiments complicate the negotiation process and delay the signing of a peace treaty. It has been determined that, despite the list of problems, Azerbaijan’s active diplomatic position and Turkey's initiative make the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia realistic, opening up prospects for regional development, geopolitical strengthening of the South Caucasus, and the implementation of transport and economic projects. The parties maintain bilateral contacts with the aim of resolving contentious issues. If a peace agreement is signed, the states of the region will be able to strengthen trade and economic ties and activate transport and logistics capabilities. The practical value of the work lies in the use of the results to assess the prospects for Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, develop recommendations for regional stability, and prepare training materials on international relations and international law