Our People > Jonathan Campion

Jonathan Campion

Contributor

Jonathan Campion has worked in the Eurasia region since 2007. After leaving Exeter University with a degree in Russian Language, he worked as a writer, editor, analyst and translator for international law firms, market research firms and business forums serving the CIS region's major industries.

With a passion for Central Asia, he has covered the region in esteemed publications such as the Lonely Planet, Open Central Asia magazine, and National Geographic Traveler.

Jonathan's first book, about a sports team from the Eurasia region, was shortlisted at the Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards in 2025.

Articles

Black Sea Tanker Attacks

Attacks on Tankers in the Black Sea Raise Risks for Oil Markets and Kazakhstan’s Exports

Recent drone attacks on the Delta Harmony and Matilda oil tankers in the Black Sea have added to the growing geopolitical risks facing the global oil market. Both tankers were awaiting loading to transport Kazakh crude via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which operates through the Novorossiysk port in southern Russia. The attacks have placed renewed attention on the exposure of Western energy majors operating in Kazakhstan, particularly Chevron, a key stakeholder in CPC-linked exports. “We are aware of reports of incidents involving vessels inbound to CPC loading facilities, including one Chevron-chartered tanker,” Chevron spokesperson Sally Jones told The Times of Central Asia. “All crew are safe, and the vessel has now reached a safe location. We are coordinating with the ship operator and relevant authorities. The safety of personnel and the protection of the environment remain our top priorities. There has been no impact on TCO operations or exports. Chevron continues to closely monitor the situation, and we refer all further inquiries to CPC.” According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, export volumes were unaffected. The fact that attacks occurred near a key export hub has, however, deepened concerns among market participants over the security of regional oil infrastructure. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added in a statement: "We emphasize that the Republic of Kazakhstan is not a party to any armed conflict, makes a significant contribution to strengthening global and European energy security, and ensures uninterrupted energy supplies in full compliance with established international standards." Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that up to three vessels may have been struck, suggesting a broader and potentially escalating threat to maritime safety in the area. The latest incidents follow a series of security-related disruptions in and around the Black Sea and Caspian regions that The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on, including attacks on energy and transport infrastructure linked to regional export routes. While earlier incidents did not result in prolonged outages, they have steadily heightened concerns among industry participants over the vulnerability of critical energy corridors. The CPC is a vital artery for Kazakhstan’s oil industry. More than 80% of the country’s crude exports, including output from major fields like Tengiz and Karachaganak, flow through this route. Disruptions in the Novorossiysk area could quickly affect shipping timetables, freight and insurance rates, and, ultimately, global oil prices. Some analysts warn that these repeated incidents near the CPC expose Kazakhstan’s strategic vulnerabilities, forcing markets to price in a “geopolitical premium.” More significantly, interruptions in oil product flows could have domestic political consequences, potentially prompting a reconfiguration of Kazakhstan’s political timetable. “The situation involving the CPC, the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, and reported attempted attacks on the Central Asia-Center gas pipeline, used to transport Russian gas through Kazakhstan, could significantly destabilize the country’s economy,” wrote oil and gas analyst Olzhas Baidildinov on his personal Telegram channel. He added that, in his view, it could become politically rational either to accelerate elections in anticipation of further instability or to delay them until...

5 months ago

Intellectual Property Rights

American Scholar Mark Reese Fights Intellectual Property Theft of Uzbek Classic ‘Bygone Days’

When American scholar Mark Reese set out to share Uzbekistan’s most celebrated novel with the world, he never imagined that his work would be pirated by the very institutions he had hoped to support. Reese, who first came to the country as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1990s, spent more than a decade translating O‘tkan Kunlar (Bygone Days), the seminal 1920s novel by Abdulla Qodiriy. His English edition was a scholarly milestone – the first time the novel, considered Uzbekistan’s literary classic, had been made accessible to English-speaking readers. The book was warmly received. In 2019, Reese was awarded the Uzbek state’s Order of Do‘stlik, or Friendship, for his contribution to cultural understanding. During a follow-up visit the next year, he gave signed copies of the book to universities and ministries across the country. “All parties asked how they could support my work,” he tells The Times of Central Asia. “I presented a copy and explained that they could purchase more at a steep discount.” Each donation came with a clear stipulation: the book was not to be copied, resold, or distributed further. For a time, the project seemed to blossom. Uzbek students used the book in academic papers. One university even adapted it into an English-language stage play. Reese granted permission for such use, as long as it remained non-commercial and he was credited. By 2021, he had entered a publishing partnership in Tashkent and was preparing to distribute 5,000 official copies in 2026. Agreements to publish in Turkey and Qatar were also underway. Then, quietly, the book escaped his hands. Reese learned from students in the Ferghana Valley that a full PDF of the translation had been uploaded to the Telegram channel of a university library. When he opened the file, he recognized something chilling – his own handwriting on the inside cover. The scan had been made from a gifted copy. It was high-resolution and clearly done using professional equipment. The source of the leak soon became clear. The rector of Uzbekistan’s State World Languages University, known locally as Jahon Tilli, confirmed in an interview that his vice rector had scanned the book as part of a digitisation initiative. “They did so without my permission,” Reese said. “And the file was then shared with 1.3 million university students and 6.3 million school students.” The book was everywhere – on servers, in group chats, on flash drives. In at least one case, students tried to send the file to a printer and sell it. Reese took the case to court. The verdict was in his favour: the court ruled that copyright theft had occurred. But instead of holding the university responsible, the judge placed the blame squarely on the vice rector. Reese believes this was a calculated move. “It’s a common ploy to reduce damages,” he said. “I’m now expected to sue the individual for up to $30,000, but courts usually award just 20 to 40 percent of that.” This, for Reese, is the deeper problem. There...

5 months ago

News Round-Up

Recent Stories From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Hydropower strain returns as rationing tightens A dry autumn has translated into a difficult start to winter for Tajikistan’s electricity system, with renewed restrictions tied to low reservoir levels. A recent Reuters report on rationing described a drop in water levels feeding the country’s hydropower fleet, with the reservoir at Nurek, the backbone of generation, reported to be substantially below the same point last year. The measures announced go beyond household inconvenience: restrictions have been accompanied by reduced lighting and tighter electricity allocations for public institutions, while officials explore imports and balancing arrangements with neighbors. Rogun’s mitigation narrative hardens as oversight grows The Rogun hydropower project remains the long-term answer Dushanbe puts forward for these seasonal crunches, and also the project that draws the most intense international scrutiny. The Times of Central Asia’s coverage of Rogun’s environmental planning highlighted a shift in framing: a “no net loss” biodiversity approach, built around compensatory habitat restoration exceeding the estimated footprint of land losses. That messaging is designed to reassure lenders and stakeholders that the dam’s scale will be matched by formal safeguards, and to keep financing pathways open at a time when environmental and social governance has become central to major infrastructure underwriting. But “no net loss” is also an invitation for closer measurement, and criticism has increasingly focused on whether offsets can meaningfully address river-system impacts, not only terrestrial habitat. Advocacy briefs circulating around Rogun argue that aquatic biodiversity mitigation and downstream ecological risk remain the hardest pieces to quantify and enforce, especially on long timelines where implementation phases stretch years beyond core construction. In other words, Rogun’s external story is evolving: it is no longer only about generating electricity and exporting surplus. It is also about whether international standards can be applied credibly to a project of this size — and whether promised safeguards hold up under cross-border water politics and long-term monitoring. A border-security story triggers a rare media confrontation If energy is the long-term strategic theme, border security remains the most sensitive. That sensitivity spilled into public view after a Reuters dispatch on alleged Tajik–Russian border talks suggested Dushanbe was considering deeper cooperation with Moscow and the CSTO for monitoring the Afghan frontier. Tajikistan’s response was unusually direct. In a sharply worded statement reported by Eurasianet’s account of the dispute, the Foreign Ministry said the report “does not correspond to reality” and insisted the border situation was under national control. Shortly afterwards, The Times of Central Asia’s report on Reuters withdrawing the story underscored how rare it is for a major international outlet to retract a piece following an official denial in the region. For Western governments, the episode illustrates how the Afghan border remains a geopolitical pressure valve, and how carefully Dushanbe manages the optics of any foreign military footprint, particularly at a time when Russia’s regional role is politically charged and China’s security profile is rising. Land degradation moves from “environmental” to “economic risk” Finally, an issue that has long sat in the “environment” column is...

5 months ago

Science

Astana Student’s Horse Milk Video Makes Finals of “Breakthrough” Science Contest

Another Kazakh scientist received an accolade this month, after 17-year-old Tomiris Abylkairova from Astana was voted into the final 16 of the prestigious international Breakthrough Junior Challenge. The Breakthrough contest, an initiative of the Breakthrough Challenge Foundation in the United States, is a global science competition for young people aged 13-18. Held for the last 11 years, students are invited to create videos of up to two minutes in length that explain a particular concept or theory in the area of life sciences, physics or mathematics. Abylkairova’s video has a Kazakh flavor, quite literally, as she uses her two minutes to discuss how fermented foods such as kymyz (horse’s milk) influence gene regulation. Her animated video was among the top 16 in a public vote, sending her to the finals after receiving a high number of “likes” on the event website. Collectively, the 30 submitted videos were viewed more than 300,000 times. Abylkairova, a student at Haileybury Astana School who also competes in national fencing championships, commented: “Representing Kazakhstan internationally is both an honor and a responsibility. For me it’s a chance to contribute to my country’s intellectual, scientific, and cultural legacy while engaging in meaningful global dialogue and research.” She added: “I’m proud to help demonstrate that young people from Kazakhstan can make impactful, long-term contributions to the global scientific community". Isabella Leonel Lelles, also 17, from Brazil, was the overall top scorer in the popular vote, with more than 66,000 likes for her video on the protein folding problem. The videos of the 16 finalists will now be reviewed by a Selection Committee of esteemed figures in American science. It has not yet been announce when the committee will select the overall winner. The winning entry will receive $400,000, with the victorious student being awarded $250,000 in educational prizes. Past Breakthrough Junior Challenge winners have come from Canada, India, Mauritius, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States. Alumni have gone on to attend institutions including MIT, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. All videos, including Abylkairova's, can be viewed on the Breakthrough Junior Challenge’s website.

6 months ago

News Round-Up

Hydropower, Social Media and Climate Change: Some News From Tajikistan That You May Have Missed

Drought Triggers Power Rationing at Nurek Hydro Station In early December, the Tajik government reintroduced electricity rationing after reservoir levels at the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Station fell sharply, due to an unusually dry autumn. The station normally supplies around 70% of the national grid, but current water levels are significantly below last year’s benchmark, affecting both domestic consumption and exports. According to Reuters, water levels have dropped more than three meters in the past month. With shortages now affecting many regions, authorities have ordered public buildings to cut electricity outside of working hours and have switched off most street lighting. Tajikistan is seeking emergency imports from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to stabilize supply. The crisis highlights vulnerabilities in a system dominated by hydropower. While Tajikistan has invested heavily in modernizing Nurek and other plants to improve winter reliability, lower precipitation remains a persistent threat. For regional energy markets, particularly those looking at cross-border electricity trade, the situation demonstrates how even large renewable systems are becoming more unpredictable under climate stress. Rogun: Progress, Profits, and Persistent Disputes Ambition continues to define the Rogun hydropower project, intended to make Tajikistan a top electricity exporter in the Eurasia region. With a projected capacity of 3,780 MW, Rogun is designed to host the world’s tallest dam. Financing momentum is building: the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has launched a $500 million multi-phase initiative, and Tajikistan has signed an energy-sale agreement with Uzbekistan at 3.4 US cents per kWh, paving the way for long-term regional integration. But Rogun’s size continues to attract scrutiny, especially downstream. An investigation has been approved by the World Bank’s Inspection Panel into claims from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan that altered flows on the Amu Darya river could damage farmland and ecosystems. The project’s social footprint is also expanding, with resettlement estimates reaching as high as 60,000 people. Development banks have slowed some financing, pending stricter environmental and regional safeguards. Local environmental researchers and activists argue that international oversight is still insufficient, warning that the cumulative ecological impact of Central Asian dam-building could become irreversible if accountability is delayed. Digital “Likes” Decriminalised, But Restrictions Remain President Emomali Rahmon has signed amendments to remove criminal penalties for “liking” or otherwise reacting to online content labelled as "extremist". Under previous legislation, social media users could face up to 15 years in prison for interacting with banned material. More than 1,500 people have been prosecuted under those rules, according to Reuters. The government presented the reform as a correction of overly zealous enforcement, following Rahmon’s public criticism of harsh prosecutions. Yet rights monitors see only minimal change. The latest Human Rights Watch report on Tajikistan notes a continued clampdown on media, opposition figures and citizen journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Tajikistan among the most restrictive media environments in Eurasia. European officials have echoed these concerns. An OSCE-backed statement by European embassies denounced the opaque eight-year treason conviction of journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, reportedly linked to analysis of Chinese policy. For many observers, the relaxed online...

6 months ago

Culture

British-Kazakh Cultural Festival Returns to Burabay

Burabay, a popular lake resort in northern Kazakhstan, has hosted the 10th edition of the 'Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art' festival, which ran from 29 November to 2 December. The annual gathering, arranged by the London-based Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), has become one of Central Asia's events for cultural collaboration, bringing together writers, filmmakers, visual artists and musicians from 20 countries. This year’s programme continued the festival’s mix of literature and modern arts, with an emphasis for 2025 on emerging film talent, through the youth-focused Cinema Future festival and the Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF). According to filmmaker and BISFF jury member Timur Akhmedjanov, “Young filmmakers from different countries on one screen [means] the birth of a new generation of cinema.” Alongside film events, the festival featured book presentations from publishers Hertfordshire Press, discussions about art, performances by an international community choir, and creative workshops hosted at the ECG Horizons residency. Organisers emphasised that for the festival, collaboration is as important as presentation. “The festival grows like a living universe of ideas and emotions. Here everyone is a creator – and everyone feels that their voice matters,” said festival director and cultural projects author Taina Kaunis. During the event's closing ceremony, awards were presented to some figures shaping Eurasian culture, while the Eurasian Creative Guild announced a change in leadership ahead of its 2026 season. Founder Marat Akhmedjanov, originally from Uzbekistan but now residing in Scotland, highlighted the organisation’s international ethos, saying: “Creativity knows no borders. We speak dozens of languages, yet understand each other perfectly.” ECG vice-chair Saltanat Khamzeyeva called it “the beginning of a big story” for cultural development in Central Asia. The Guild underscores that the Burabay resort has become more than a picturesque location for a festival. Chair Francesca Mepham summed up its growing impact: “We see Eurasian creativity becoming a global voice – and this voice will only become stronger.”

6 months ago

Book Reviews

New Book Review: ‘Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan’ by Joanna Lillis

“Vibrant” and “brutal” are words that British journalist Joanna Lillis uses to describe Uzbekistan in her new book Silk Mirage: Through the Looking Glass in Uzbekistan, released this week through Bloomsbury. But they could just as easily be used to describe the book itself. In her own words, Lillis, a Central Asia correspondent for The Economist and other media, set out to create "a portrait of Uzbekistan from independence to the modern-day, dipping into history to demonstrate where the country came from and how it got where it is today, and offer clues about where it is going." She achieves this with a book that is clear-eyed and meticulously researched, detailing how Uzbekistan’s two 21st-century leaders, presidents Islam Karimov and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, have shaped the lives of Uzbekistan’s remarkable people. The book opens with a summary of the paranoia and violence of the Karimov era (1989-2016), told through Lillis’ experience of having recently arrived in Tashkent in 2001. She lived in the country until 2005, and has spent a lot of time in Uzbekistan thereafter. While the western media that reported on Karimov’s death in 2016 speculated on a battle behind the scenes to succeed him, Silk Mirage is clear that power was always going to pass to Miziyoyev, who had been Karimov's prime minister for the previous 14 years. Lillis does, though, memorably mention that "there may have been a fierce under-the-rug catfight." A recurring topic in Silk Mirage is the repression of the media in Uzbekistan, and local journalists’ need to self-censor and avoid uncomfortable issues. There is none of that in this absolutely fearless book. Lillis gives stark details of Karimov’s human rights abuses, particularly in accounts of the horrific Jaslyk prison. She also confronts his successor’s failure to eradicate some of the injustices in the present day. When comparisons are made between life under Karimov, referred to as "Old Uzbekistan", and the New Uzbekistan of Mirziyoyev, the progress towards democracy is described as a qualified success. The country now has a parliament with younger, more accountable deputies; however, “opposition” is still a dirty word, and the proliferation of new political parties is misleading. Economic reforms have led to the previous official corruption and black market profiteering being replaced with a state that is friendlier to local businesses and foreign investors alike. That being said, there are still restrictions on citizens’ rights. So, have Mirziyoyev’s plans for democracy and reforms been slowed down by systemic issues – the need for his government to first dismantle the dictatorship he inherited? Or is Karimov’s old ally too much of a product of Old Uzbekistan to fully stop the past from repeating? Lillis leaves the reader to decide for themself. Silk Mirage dedicates chapters to events in Uzbekistan that have occasionally caught international attention. The last two decades have seen the authorities’ 2005 massacre of hundreds of people in the eastern city of Andijan, which was blamed on an ambiguous Islamist cult; outcries over forced labour and child labour in...

7 months ago

Cuisine

Uzbek Restaurant in Nashville Recommended by Michelin Guide

It may not have yet earned a coveted star, but a small Uzbek restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee has impressed reviewers from Michelin. This month Uzbegim, on the city’s 28th Avenue North, was named on the Nashville Bib Gourmand list, which is composed by Michelin’s Guide. In its own words, a place on the Bib Gourmand list “acknowledges excellent food at more affordable prices”. The Central Asian diner, whose dishes are halal, appears alongside much bigger and more established spots. The accolade is a reward for the superb traditional Uzbek food offered by owner Ulugbek Fayziev, who opened his restaurant in the east of Nashville in late 2023. Uzbegim is located at the back of a pizzeria, which is owned by different Uzbeks who let Fayziev use their space. Michelin’s Guide mentions that Uzbegim “promises something different, specializing in authentic Uzbek cuisine in a space with a stunning patio. Originating in Islamic China and traveling across to the Middle East, this is a cuisine that features some of the usual suspects (think kebabs) as well as standouts like Uyghur-style, hand-cut noodles.” Nashville local Mark Reese is a fan of the restaurant. “Uzbegim has what I call Central Asian comfort food,” he tells The Times of Central Asia. “It serves chaikhona [cafe-style] plov with tender lamb, rice, raisins and carrots. Shashlik [kebab] with onions and vinegar. 'Kazan kabob' is a highlight with chunks of tender meat and potatoes cooked perfectly, fork tender. My favorite is the Uyghur laghmon [noodles], both boiled and fried. The noodles were freshly prepared with just enough spicy broth, meat and bell peppers to offset the noodles.” Reese is well acquainted with Uzbek cuisine: he has worked in Central Asia’s education and cultural spheres for 30 years, and was awarded Uzbekistan’s Order of Do'stlik for his English translation of Abdulla Qodiriy’s historical novel O’tkan Kunlar (Bygone Days). He explains to The Times of Central Asia: "Nashville is relatively new as an emerging place for Uzbeks and other Central Asians to live. Vanderbilt University is home to quite a few Uzbek students." Noting some links between this part of the southern United States and Uzbekistan, Reese adds: “Uzbeks have lived in Tennessee for decades, especially Memphis. Uzbeks are naturally attracted to an emerging city that has slowly become internationalized. Especially the Umarov family engage in philanthropic activities, including cancer research for children’s hospitals." Nashville's Uzbek diaspora may have discovered Uzbegim first, but since Michelin's review, new American customers are sure to wander in, to taste Central Asian comfort food for themselves.

7 months ago

News Roundup

New Projects, Evolving Trade: Recent News from Tajikistan That You Might Have Missed

Recent weeks in Tajikistan have seen new investment deals, changing trade dynamics, and interesting social developments. Here are some stories that you may have missed. Energy investments pledged at Dushanbe Invest-2025 The Dushanbe Invest-2025 Forum resulted in 26 agreements worth roughly US $3.1 billion across the energy, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors. Energy projects accounted for nearly US $2.4 billion of that total, reflecting Dushanbe’s aims to position itself as a hydropower hub for Central Asia. Officials also promoted “green investment” and developments in AI, while President Emomali Rahmon met with Qatar’s minister for foreign trade to discuss economic cooperation. These moves signal a drive to attract sustainable finance, and diversify an economy that is still reliant on remittances from Tajik guest workers in Russia. Growing trade with Iran and Uzbekistan Regional trade expanded significantly in October. Tajikistan and Iran reaffirmed their intention to expand industrial and trade cooperation, with mutual turnover nearing $380 million in 2024 and a target to surpass $500 million in the near future. Agreements include joint ventures in mining, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. At the same time, trade between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reached over $70o million in 2024 -- an almost three-fold increase from recent years. The governments of the neighboring countries are now exploring logistics corridors and simplified customs rules to further integrate their economies. Tourism boom: International visitors up by a quarter With increased government support, tourism has become one of Tajikistan’s most promising growth sectors. During the first nine months of 2025, the country received nearly 1.4 million foreign visitors -- a 24 percent increase compared with previous years. The influx of tourists is driven by new simplified visa rules, social media campaigns, and improved domestic air routes. Adventure travel in the Pamir Mountains and cultural tourism in ancient cities such as Khujand and Istaravshan are leading this wave. Sharp decline in UK trade New figures show that trade between Tajikistan and the United Kingdom fell by almost 39 percent in the four quarters ending Q2 2025, totaling just £22 million. Imports from the UK dropped 32 percent, while exports from Tajikistan plunged 62.5 percent, according to the UK trade factsheet. Landmark border agreement ratified In late October, Uzbekistan’s parliament approved a trilateral border-junction agreement with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, resolving a long-standing territorial issue. The agreement should ease cross-border trade and transportation, reduce tensions in remote areas, and open the door to regional infrastructure projects linking the three countries. For Tajikistan, which has some of Central Asia’s most complex borders, the agreement represents a diplomatic milestone that could translate into tangible economic gains. Looking ahead The last month’s events highlight that Tajikistan is cautiously re-entering international dialogue in Central Asia and beyond. Tajikistan’s leadership is using investment forums, tourism, and pragmatic diplomacy to stabilize and diversify the economy. Yet challenges remain, chiefly the country's heavy economic dependence on remittances, vulnerability to climate-related shocks, and limited industrial capacity.

7 months ago

Central Asia-US Summit

Tokayev Backs Azerbaijan to Join Central Asia-U.S. Summit

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said he would welcome Azerbaijan’s participation in the upcoming Central Asia-U.S. Summit in Washington. In an exclusive comment to Azerbaijani outlet Minval Politika, Tokayev praised Azerbaijan’s regional role and even called the country a “natural part of Greater Central Asia.” “I consider Azerbaijan’s participation in such an important forum desirable. Given its energy resources, favorable geographic location, strategic vision, and the political will of President Ilham Aliyev, this country plays a crucial role in the South Caucasus and beyond, essentially becoming a regional transport, logistics, and energy powerhouse,” Tokayev said. “Azerbaijan can be considered a natural part of Greater Central Asia. I also consider President Donald Trump’s initiative to hold a summit in Washington in the very near future to be very timely and worthy of support. I am confident this event will be productive and mutually beneficial,” the Kazakh leader noted. The planned summit on November 6 falls under the C5+1 format that brings together the U.S. and the five countries of Central Asia. It will mark the first such gathering held in Washington, after an initial presidential meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in 2023. Donald Trump has formally invited the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to attend. The meeting will coincide with the tenth anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, which was launched in 2015 to deepen cooperation between Central Asia and the U.S. on security, economic and other issues. Tokayev’s remarks about Azerbaijan reflect a growing view that Azerbaijan is increasingly integrated with Central Asia. In recent years, Baku has been invited to Central Asian heads-of-state consultative summits as a special participant, underscoring what analysts call the “growing importance of the South Caucasus as a gateway for Central Asia to European markets”. During the most recent Central Asia leaders’ meeting in Astana in August, Azerbaijan was designated a key partner in regional initiatives, and Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan and the Central Asian countries “represent a single historical, cultural, and geopolitical space” with deep-rooted ties. That brotherly affinity is reinforced by Turkic cultural links and mutual strategic interests. Tokayev himself, in talks with Aliyev, has called Azerbaijan “a regional power” and “a fraternal state” for Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan indeed wields significant influence as an energy and transport hub connecting Eurasia. The country is a major oil and gas producer that has steadily expanded exports to Europe, and it anchors the Trans-Caspian trade routes linking China and Central Asia to the West via the Caucasus. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine disrupted traditional east–west corridors, the so-called Middle Corridor -- running from Central Asia across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan -- has taken on greater importance. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have positioned themselves as “key actors” in this reconfigured Eurasian logistics network that bypasses Russian territory. The United States is also paying close attention to these routes: officials have indicated that the Washington summit will spotlight development of the Trans-Caspian corridor, with the U.S. “keen to promote logistics...

7 months ago

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