While offering a platform to start work between Armenia and Azerbaijan on a real peace and normalization of relations and trade between the two countries, the ceasefire Russia brokered to end the fighting in November 2020 has not been able to forestall renewed fighting. On September 13, deadly clashes broke out on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border that killed over 200 soldiers on both sides and left an unknown number of others wounded. Leading up to and following the latest skirmishes, several outside actors have attempted to increase their involvement in the conflict as mediators between the two sides. Namely, there are three main competing mediation tracks led by the United States, the European Union (EU), and Russia. Additionally, there are also regional actors contributing to the conflict’s power dynamics – Türkiye, France, Iran, and Georgia. While these outside actors are competing to secure a seat at the negotiating table, the question then arises: do these powers’ competing interests benefit the conflicting parties?

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