The border dispute most closely related to the breakup of the Soviet Union is the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This region, which is ethnically Armenian but located within the borders of Azerbaijan, became a focal point of conflict following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The roots of the dispute date back to the early 20th century but escalated significantly as both Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union. The resulting war from 1988 to 1994 led to significant loss of life and displaced populations, leaving Nagorno-Karabakh under the control of ethnic Armenian forces. The conflict has continued to flare up intermittently, with significant escalations occurring in 2016 and again in 2020. The complexities of national identity, historical claims, and geopolitical interests in the region have kept this dispute unresolved even decades after the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed.
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