The thaw in Turkish-Armenian ties will expand Turkey's regional influence while enabling Armenia to somewhat reduce its reliance on Russia, though progress on both fronts will be constrained by Russian coercion. On May 25, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in a social media post that the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway between Georgia and Turkey is open for Armenian imports and exports. The announcement came after Turkey lifted some customs restrictions on Armenia on May 13, a step toward facilitating direct bilateral trade -- the latest in a series of slow-moving steps to thaw ties between Turkey and Armenia. On May 4, the two also signed a memorandum of understanding to restore the ruined medieval Ani Bridge, which sits between the two countries, as a symbolic gesture of cooperation. The agreement was announced after a meeting between Pashinyan and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz on the sidelines of the 8th European Political...
