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Türkiye is reportedly considering reopening its land border with Armenia within the next six months after 32 years, according to individuals familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg.
The Türkiye–Armenia border, which includes two crossings, Akyaka and Alican gates, has remained closed since 1993, except for a brief reopening of the Alican gate in February 2023 to allow humanitarian aid deliveries following the earthquakes in Türkiye.
The opening of the borders would mark the most significant step in the normalization process between the two countries, which has long been stalled by the decadeslong conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The issue returned to the spotlight earlier this year, when the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States signed a trilateral peace declaration under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkish and Armenian diplomats inspected the Akyaka–Akhurik crossing and met in Gyumri to discuss reopening transport routes, including plans to restore the long-inactive Kars–Gyumri railway, which could take up to five months, according to officials cited in the report.
Türkiye is also undertaking road construction in the surrounding border region to support security operations, local officials said.
Restoring the long-dormant Kars–Gyumri railway is a key part of the initiative, as reopening the land link would improve connectivity in a strategic corridor for energy transit from the Caspian Basin to Europe, bypassing Russian territory.
While Türkiye is actively preparing the infrastructure for re-engagement, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated last month that diplomatic normalization with Armenia would depend on the conclusion of a formal peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He indicated that restoring ties prematurely could remove Armenia’s main incentive to commit to such an agreement.
The report also suggests that reopening the border could bolster Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian ahead of June elections, potentially paving the way for a peace deal with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Ankara may appoint an ambassador to Yerevan only after such an agreement is finalized, it noted.
The United States has secured exclusive rights to develop a strategic transit link under the trilateral agreement. Known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), the project envisions a direct connection between mainland Azerbaijan and Türkiye through Armenian territory. Also referred to as the Zangezur Corridor, the route forms part of a broader east–west transit network.
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