Turkey and Armenia to restart direct trade after 33-year border closure

Turkey and Armenia will restart direct trade, according to Ankara, marking a significant thaw in relations after three decades of economic isolation. Turkey shut its border with Armenia in 1993 during the first Karabakh conflict, severing commercial links between the neighbours.

The trade reopening comes amid broader regional diplomatic shifts following the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh and ongoing peace negotiations. The move could ease economic pressures on both countries and signal willingness to normalise ties. However, deep-rooted tensions over territorial disputes and historical grievances remain unresolved. The development reflects international pressure on both nations to pursue stability in the South Caucasus.