Analyst: Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting takes on new regional dimension in Abu Dhabi

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are set to meet in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, a notable shift from their previous meetings, which were mostly held in European countries or in Russia.

In a social media post, political analyst Hakob Badalyan suggests the new location signals a broader geopolitical realignment, possibly indicating a move of the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process toward the Middle East and the so-called "Global South”.

Badalyan notes that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had a phone call with the UAE’s foreign minister during a June visit to Beijing, raising speculation about a behind-the-scenes role for China, which maintains strategic ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan and aspires to lead the Global South.

“This context casts a different light on recent comments by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio regarding a potential Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement. Washington may be responding to China's quiet diplomatic efforts, rather than leading the process itself,” the analyst said.