Role of International Actors in the Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh

Abstract

Nagorno-territory Karabakh's is internationally recognized as an integral part of Azerbaijan, which
controls the Armenian-ethnic population. The unresolved territorial dispute between two states,
“Armenia and Azerbaijan,” over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is the most dangerous threat to the
security of the South Caucasus and neighbouring states. The novel ceasefire agreement between
Armenia and Azerbaijan was brokered unilaterally by Russia, with the major regional actors
excluded. As a result, the Armenian masses were outraged, and the territory's legal status remained
ambiguous. For decades, the regional confrontation significantly altered geopolitical and
geostrategic circumstances, as well as regional and non-regional actors' efforts to reach a
comprehensive resolution. In this context, Turkey has a favorable impact on the entire region as a
transit energy state, serving as a bridge to the West due to its distinctive location. With the
participation of major regional stakeholders, the frozen conflict can easily be transformed into a
new cycle of violence. This research aimed to analyze the role of regional actors in the disputed
region of Nagorno-Karabakh and explore their geopolitical and geostrategic interests of regional
and great powers by using secondary sources of data and seeking a solution to the conflict.