As　a　representative　third-generation　Al-Li　alloy,　2A97　alloy　has　attracted　significant　attention　for　applications　in　aeronautics　and　astronautics,　but　its　poor　hot　workability　and　complex　thermal　deformation　behavior,　which　make　for　difficult　optimization,　significantly　limit　its　widespread　industrial　utilization.　In　this　study,　the　thermal　deformation　behavior　of　2A97　Al-Li　alloy　was　systematically　investigated　via　thermal　compression　tests　conducted　over　a　temperature　range　of　260-460　degrees　C　and　strain　rates　ranging　from　0.001　s-1　to　1　s-1.　The　effects　of　deformation　parameters　on　the　alloy＇s　microstructural　evolution　were　examined　using　electron　backscatter　diffraction　(EBSD)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　Based　on　the　dynamic　materials　model,　a　constitutive　equation　was　established　by　analyzing　the　stress-strain　data　under　various　thermal　deformation　conditions.　Furthermore,　a　thermal　processing　map　was　compiled　to　analyze　the　effects　of　the　temperature　and　strain　rate　on　the　power　dissipation　efficiency　and　flow　instability　factor.　The　thermal　deformation　mechanisms　were　identified　through　combined　analysis　of　the　thermal　processing　map　and　microstructural　features.　Results　indicate　that　the　fraction　of　low-angle　grain　boundaries　increases　with　a　rising　lnZ　value　(Zener-Hollomon　parameter)　during　the　thermal　compression　process.　Dynamic　recrystallization　is　the　main　deformation　mechanism　of　2A97　Al-Li　alloy　in　the　stable　region,　whereas　the　alloy　exhibits　flow　localization　in　the　unstable　region.　According　to　the　thermal　processing　map,　the　optimal　hot　working　windows　for　the　2A97　Al-Li　alloy　were　determined　to　be　(1)　360-460　degrees　C　at　strain　rates　of　0.05　s-1-1　s-1,　and　(2)　340-420　degrees　C　at　strain　rates　of　0.001　s-1-0.005　s-1.　These　conditions　offer　favorable　combinations　of　microstructure　and　deformation　stability,　providing　critical　guidance　for　the　thermo-mechanical　processing　of　2A97　alloy.