Key facts
- The Armenia–Azerbaijan Conflict is an interstate in the South Caucasus, currently Tensions (Medium intensity).
- Following Azerbaijan's 2023 recovery of Nagorno-Karabakh and the exodus of its Armenian population, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain in tense negotiations over borders and a final peace treaty, with periodic friction.
- Key actors: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Regional powers.
- What's at stake: Peace treaty, Border demarcation, Regional alignments.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-06-21.
- Armenia, Azerbaijan and the unfinished peace2026-06-03 — Engelsberg Ideas
- Who Does Azerbaijan Want to See Win Armenia’s Elections?2026-06-05 — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Armenia After the Election: Diversification Without Decoupling from Russia2026-06-18 — International Centre for Defence and Security
- Why Russia Still Isn’t Finished with Armenia2026-06-19 — The National Interest
- Armenia’s westward turn overshadowed by personal rule2026-06-18 — civicus lens
- Russian wheat shipped to Armenia via transit through Azerbaijan2026-06-20 — Armenpress
- Azerbaijan facilitates new transit from Russia to Armenia2026-06-20 — AzerNews
- European court orders Azerbaijan to pay compensation over beheading of Armenian soldier2026-06-19 — JAMnews
Overview
Following Azerbaijan's 2023 recovery of Nagorno-Karabakh and the exodus of its Armenian population, Armenia and Azerbaijan remain in tense negotiations over borders and a final peace treaty, with periodic friction.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Figures and control change continually — confirm the latest with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- Armenia — its government and forces.
- Azerbaijan — its government and forces.
- Regional powers — external states with influence in the Caucasus.
- Displaced populations — affected by the Karabakh exodus.
What's at stake
- Peace treaty: whether a durable agreement is reached.
- Border demarcation: unresolved frontier disputes.
- Regional alignments: competition among outside powers.
- Displaced communities: the fate of those who fled Karabakh.
Armenia-Azerbaijan explained: the key dynamics
After Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan recovered the Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2023, prompting the exodus of most of its ethnic Armenian population. The conflict's central territorial dispute was thereby resolved by force, reshaping the South Caucasus.
Toward a peace treaty
Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in negotiations over a final peace treaty and border demarcation, though sticking points and periodic friction remain.
A contested neighborhood
Outside powers compete for influence in the South Caucasus, and the corridor and connectivity questions between the two states carry regional significance.
Timeline: how the armenia-azerbaijan unfolded
- 1988–94 — The first Nagorno-Karabakh war ends with Armenian control of the enclave.
- 2020 — A 44-day war sees Azerbaijan retake surrounding territories.
- 2023 — Azerbaijan recovers Nagorno-Karabakh; most ethnic Armenians flee.
- 2024–26 — Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiate a peace treaty amid periodic tension.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
With the Karabakh question settled militarily, tracking now focuses on border incidents and the peace process rather than active war, which ACLED captures as discrete clashes. UCDP records the interstate dyad. The situation is tense but far less violent than during the wars; status can still shift.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
Are Armenia and Azerbaijan at war in 2026?
The two states are in tense post-Karabakh negotiations with periodic border friction rather than full-scale war. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
What happened in Nagorno-Karabakh?
Azerbaijan recovered the territory in 2023, prompting the exodus of most of its ethnic Armenian population.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see this theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Who controls Nagorno-Karabakh now?
Azerbaijan controls Nagorno-Karabakh, having recovered it in 2023. Most of the region's ethnic Armenian population left during and after the offensive.
Are Armenia and Azerbaijan still at war?
They are not in active war but remain in a tense post-conflict negotiation over a peace treaty and borders, with periodic friction along the frontier.