Türkiye completes tender to reconstruct historic Ani Bridge on Armenia border, a project seen as a confidence-building step in normalization

Türkiye has completed the tender for rebuilding the historic Ani Bridge on its border with Armenia. The project is described as a concrete confidence-building step in the normalization process launched in 2022; the two countries still have no diplomatic relations, and their land border has been closed since 1993.

The 10th-century Silk Road bridge crosses the Arpaçay River, which forms the border between Türkiye and Armenia, at the UNESCO-listed Ani archaeological site in Kars province. It was originally about 80 meters long, with a single 31-meter arch, and once served as a customs checkpoint. The arch collapsed in 1807, leaving a pier on each bank.

Türkiye and Armenia signed a reconstruction protocol in Yerevan in May.