Will President Ilham Aliyev attend Yerevan summit in 2026? Exclusive by Caliber.Az

On October 27, Armenian media cited Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan as stating that Armenian authorities had officially invited Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to participate in the European Political Community summit scheduled for May 2026 in Yerevan. At a subsequent briefing, Mirzoyan clarified that the invitation is currently undergoing formal documentation.

The question remains: will President Aliyev actually attend the summit? Caliber.Az has insights on this matter, but first, it is essential to consider the current state of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations.

Azerbaijan has consistently championed a peaceful agenda in the region. Notably, it was Baku that proposed the framework for normalization by putting forward five foundational principles, which later formed the basis of the peace agreement initialed in Washington. The initialing confirmed the agreed text and established the general framework for future normalization. In Washington, a joint declaration was also signed by Ilham Aliyev, Donald Trump, and Nikol Pashinyan, emphasizing the importance of reopening regional communications and ensuring unimpeded transit between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan.

Beyond official diplomacy, initial civil society contacts are beginning to take shape. A recent visit to Yerevan by Azerbaijani civil figures demonstrates that the reconciliation process is extending beyond government channels. These initiatives are not only supported by Baku but, in several instances, actively promoted, as expanding such contacts mitigates tensions and enhances the sustainability of a future agreement.

While progress is evident, the region currently enjoys de facto peace—yet the legal framework remains incomplete. According to diplomatic sources cited by Caliber.Az, the present level of bilateral relations does not make a high-level visit by President Aliyev to Yerevan a practical option at this stage.

Azerbaijan follows a principle of concrete actions. A visit by a president without a signed agreement or the establishment of practical mechanisms could create a misleading impression of a concluded process. Until the legal foundation is formalized and commitments begin to be implemented, such steps would be premature.

The prospect of high-level visits in the future is not excluded. On the contrary, once the peace agreement is signed and its provisions are put into effect, such visits will become a natural progression of the reconciliation process. For now, the priority remains the practical fulfillment of previously agreed commitments, ensuring that peace is secured both de facto and de jure.