Turkey’s Intelligence Chief, Ibrahim Kalın, reaffirmed Ankara’s support for the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” through Armenia, linking its opening to the signing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This agreement, Kalın noted, would pave the way for a direct connection between Azerbaijan, its Nakhichevan exclave, and Turkey.
Kalın emphasized the importance of reaching a comprehensive peace agreement to ensure long-term stability and development in the Caucasus. He highlighted that such an agreement would significantly enhance regional connectivity, particularly along the Azerbaijan-Armenia-Nakhichevan-Turkey-Europe route, and facilitate the opening of the “Zangezur Corridor.” He also stressed the necessity of establishing direct transport links from Azerbaijan to Europe via Turkey.
Kalın praised Azerbaijan’s efforts to normalize conditions in Artsakh following the 44-day conflict in 2020, which led to the occupation of the Armenian region and culminated in the ethnic cleansing and genocide of Armenians between September and October 2023.
Speaking at the Baku Security Conference, where discussions focused on “Modern security challenges of global transport,” Kalın reiterated Turkey’s stance. The event, which was reported by Turkish and Azerbaijani media, brought together intelligence and security leaders from around 50 countries. Kalın also addressed Turkey-Azerbaijan relations and the role of intelligence diplomacy in resolving regional and global conflicts. He engaged in bilateral meetings with various international counterparts to discuss both regional and global security issues.
Kalın’s remarks come in the wake of Iran’s strong objections to Russia’s recent calls for Armenia to open transport links for Nakhichevan under the terms of the Russian-brokered ceasefire that ended the 2020 war. While Moscow assured Tehran that these links would not compromise Armenian sovereignty over Syunik or create an extraterritorial corridor, Iran remains unconvinced. Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi recently reiterated that the Zangezur Corridor is a red line for Iran, warning that any alterations would provoke a “strong and serious response.”
Since the 2020 war, Azerbaijan has demanded the establishment of an extraterritorial corridor through Armenia, which Turkey supports. Ankara has linked Armenia’s fulfillment of these demands to the normalization of Turkey-Armenia relations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated in July that opening the Zangezur Corridor would be the “final step” in resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
The Armenian government insists that any movement of people and goods between Nakhichevan and Azerbaijan must be subject to Armenian border controls, advocating for conventional transport links rather than an extraterritorial corridor.
The corridor, as envisioned by Baku and Ankara, would pass through Syunik, the only Armenian region bordering Iran. Iran has repeatedly warned against any attempts to sever its common border and transport links with Armenia. In July, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that the corridor would be “detrimental to Armenia.”
Ä°brahim Kalın is the current Director of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT). A member of the AK Party, he previously served as the presidential spokesperson and senior advisor to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from 2014 to 2023 and as the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Security and Foreign Policy in the Presidential Complex.
