Almaty Emerges as a Key Venue for the Negotiation Process that Resulted in the Joint Washington Declaration Between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States
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In a significant development for the South Caucasus region, Kazakhstan has played a pivotal role as a neutral and trusted mediator in the 2024 peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This role has been particularly evident through hosting and facilitating key ministerial-level negotiations in Almaty.
The meetings in Almaty served to advance the drafting of the peace agreement text, contributing to progress that culminated in the joint Washington declaration of August 2025. The Almaty meetings were a crucial step in refining the peace agreement framework, paving the way for the Washington summit.
Kazakhstan offered Almaty as a neutral venue for foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan to negotiate important aspects of the peace treaty, helping bridge disagreements. The strategic importance of this neutrality lies in both countries' positions along the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Route (TITR) and the newly approved Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) corridor.
These routes are vital for Kazakhstan's export trade and energy pipelines to Europe, providing economic incentives to facilitate peace. Kazakhstan aims to enhance regional integration through infrastructure, trade, and energy projects linked to the peace process. Armenia could become a transit hub on routes connecting Central Asia and Europe, benefiting Kazakhstan's westward exports.
Beyond mediation, Kazakhstan seeks to boost its geopolitical influence by playing a constructive mediator role and hosting peace talks. By doing so, Kazakhstan strengthens its position as a stabilizing regional power neutral between Eurasian actors.
The Washington summit marked a milestone towards ending a conflict that lasted for three decades. The agreement text was further developed during negotiations hosted by Kazakhstan. The Washington summit made a significant contribution to the opening of communication lines and finalizing the text of the peace agreement.
The only remaining condition for signing the final peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is the removal of territorial claims on Azerbaijani lands from the Armenian constitution. The framework for "unimpeded connectivity" between the main part of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through Armenia is now called the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity."
In summary, Kazakhstan acted as an important facilitator and host in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, using its geographic and economic stakes to promote dialogue, while positioning itself as a key regional diplomatic actor and economic partner in the evolving South Caucasus peace and integration landscape.
[1] The Astana Times. (2025). Kazakhstan's Role in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Process. Retrieved from https://www.astanatimes.com/2025/08/kazakhstans-role-in-the-armenia-azerbaijan-peace-process/
[2] Ibrahim Mammadov. (2025). Kazakhstan's Geopolitical Interests and Influence in the South Caucasus. Danube Institute, Budapest, Hungary.
[4] The Astana Times. (2025). Washington Summit Marks Milestone Towards Ending Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict. Retrieved from https://www.astanatimes.com/2025/08/washington-summit-marks-milestone-towards-ending-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict/
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Astana Times.
- The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, culminating in the joint Washington declaration of August 2025, was facilitated by Kazakhstan's policy-and-legislation and politics, as it offered Almaty as a neutral venue for ministerial-level negotiations.
- As Kazakhstan seeks to boost its geopolitical influence, war-and-conflicts such as the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict offer opportunities to showcase its role as a constructive mediator, thereby shaping general-news stories about its growing importance in the South Caucasus region.
