Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met in Abu Dhabi on July 10 in what appears to be the most substantive step forward in bilateral peace negotiations since the March 2025 draft agreement between the two countries. Convened with the backing of the United Arab Emirates, the meeting unfolded first in the presence of delegations before transitioning to a closed-door, one-on-one session between the two leaders.

The agenda centred on the core pillars of the long-stalled peace process: the delimitation of borders, opening of regional transport routes, most notably the Zangezur corridor, and finalisation of a peace treaty. 

According to Azerbaijani sources, the discussions were "substantive and serious”. Both sides confirmed their commitment to continuing bilateral negotiations and confidence-building measures, while tasking their respective border commissions with advancing technical work on delimitation.

The meeting took place in a "constructive atmosphere", according to Baku, with both leaders thanking Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for hosting the dialogue.

The format, tone, and venue of the Abu Dhabi meeting signal a shift away from multilateral frameworks and back toward direct bilateralism—an approach both capitals now describe as the “most effective format” for resolving open issues. Officials from Azerbaijan, including Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, attended alongside President Aliyev. The Armenian side was represented by Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and senior advisers.

EU and US cautiously welcome progress

The European Union quickly endorsed the talks. EU foreign policy spokesperson Anita Hipper called the Abu Dhabi meeting "a crucial step towards lasting peace and security in the region”, reiterating Brussels’ support for the March 2025 draft treaty on the establishment of inter-state relations. Hipper added that the EU "stands ready to offer additional support and expertise" should the parties request it, and called for swift signing and ratification of the agreement.

In Washington, US State Department spokesperson Tammi Bruce voiced broad support for peace efforts in the South Caucasus, noting that the US is closely monitoring developments. While refraining from direct comment on the meeting, Bruce said the administration remains committed to promoting stability. She also pointedly invoked statements by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a recent Cabinet session, framing the administration’s posture as "clearly committed to peace”.

Yerevan sees success, Baku keeps quiet

Official Yerevan described the Abu Dhabi talks as “successful”, adding that they provide a “serious basis” for further implementation of the peace agenda. The tone contrasts with Azerbaijan’s more reserved posturing, which focused on technical progress and procedural continuity. Both sides, however, appeared aligned on maintaining momentum, at least for now.

No formal documents were signed, and no timeline was announced for the signing of the peace treaty. Still, Abu Dhabi has now joined Brussels, Moscow and Washington as a site of serious diplomatic engagement over the Armenia–Azerbaijan question.