Azerbaijan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Regional Cooperation

With Shared Goals, Azerbaijan Draws Closer to Central Asia

Then there were six. The five Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are widely thought of as a group, united by geography, their shared history as former Soviet republics, and growing collaboration in recent years. Now, Azerbaijan is emerging as a sixth member of the group, even though it is in the South Caucasus. At a summit on Sunday, Central Asian leaders supported Azerbaijan’s accession to the region’s Consultative Meeting format as a full participant, “forming a unified space for interaction between Central Asia and the South Caucasus,” Uzbekistan’s presidency said. The Consultative Meeting format is a vehicle for high-level collaboration among Central Asian countries, which have taken steps to resolve border disputes and other sources of tension between them over the years. The format addresses trade, security, and other issues. All five Central Asian leaders, as well as President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, attended the annual meeting in Tashkent on Sunday. In a speech, Aliyev noted that he had visited Central Asian countries 14 times in the last three years, and that Central Asian leaders had visited Azerbaijan a total of 23 times during the same period. He said Azerbaijan and Central Asia “today form a single geopolitical and geo-economic region, whose importance in the world is steadily growing.” Azerbaijan, which is also a former Soviet republic, shares the Turkic background of some of the Central Asian nations. While all the countries have distinct national identities, they covet the goal of more robust trade routes linking Asia and Europe, as well as regional solidarity in an uncertain geopolitical environment where China, Russia, and the United States are dominant powers. After Azerbaijan was admitted to the Central Asian talks format, Azerbaijani presidential adviser Hikmet Hajiyev posted on X: “From now on, Central Asia stands as 6.”

U.S.-Central Asia Summit

Gor and Landau Tour Central Asia Amid Rising Stakes

On October 25, U.S. Special Representative for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau arrived in Tashkent on an official visit. The visit to Central Asia was not publicly scheduled in advance, with news of the trip only emerging a few days beforehand. In Uzbekistan, the high-ranking visitors were received with full state honors. A motorcycle escort and blocked roads in the capital are typically reserved for visits by heads of state. Although the American delegation’s visit to Uzbekistan ended by Monday evening, local media coverage remained scant. Apart from posts on the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan’s Telegram channel, almost no media outlets covered the event. On the evening of October 25, Gor and Landau held productive talks with representatives of U.S. companies about numerous opportunities to strengthen mutual prosperity. Afterwards, they traveled to Samarkand, where they toured the city often referred to as the pearl of Central Asia. On October 26, the visitors held fruitful talks with Foreign Minister Saidov, thanking him for his leadership and hospitality throughout the visit. His efforts, they noted, are elevating the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Uzbekistan to a new level. The delegation also held “productive” talks with Ministers Bobir Islamov and Laziz Kudratov on expanding trade and investment ties. By Monday evening, Gor and Landau had arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan. As the largest city in the country, Almaty is also one of Central Asia’s key business hubs. According to sources, the agenda in Kazakhstan includes meetings with business leaders and a cultural program. As in Uzbekistan, there was no official information about the visit released on Monday. This may, however, be because Monday was a national holiday - Republic Day – an event which President Donald Trump extended his congratulations to mark, stating that ““The United States values our close economic and security ties with Kazakhstan and looks forward to further strengthening our expanded strategic partnership in the coming year.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio also sent his “congratulations to the people of Kazakhstan.” By all indications, the lightning-fast visit by the senior U.S. delegation is linked to the recently announced C5+1 summit in Washington on November 6. Beyond cultural sightseeing, the talks reportedly covered cooperation in rare earth mineral processing and other sensitive areas. Recently, U.S. interest in the countries of the region has expanded significantly. While China and, traditionally, Russia are considered the main players in the region, Europe and the U.S. are increasingly seeking a firmer foothold in Central Asia’s strategic landscape. Recent global conflicts have exposed major powers’ dependence on raw materials and logistics routes. The search for new corridors and suppliers now seems both logical and urgent. Sanctions on Russia have also had a direct impact on regional economies, requiring swift responses. The C5+1 format presents an ideal framework for launching coordinated political and business cooperation. Yet, it’s essential to recognize the significant disparities among Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan is the region’s financial heavyweight. According to the IMF, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita...

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...

State Visit

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Deepen Strategic Partnership Through Middle Corridor

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent state visit to Astana has marked a significant turning point in relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President Aliyev underscored the rapid expansion of cooperation across transport, investment, and technology sectors. Political and cultural ties are also deepening, bolstering what both sides have described as a “brotherly” relationship. Economic Ties Strengthened by Infrastructure and Energy Projects Tokayev highlighted the strategic importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), noting a 62% increase in freight traffic in 2024 to 4.5 million tons, with a further 2% rise recorded so far in 2025. Kazakhstan is currently building a container hub in Aktau, while a new cargo terminal in the port of Alat, developed with foreign partners, including China, offers further growth potential. The two leaders also discussed establishing a Trans-Caspian ferry system to expand exports, with a long-term goal of boosting cargo traffic to 10 million tons. Tokayev further emphasized Kazakhstan’s use of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline for oil exports. In 2024, nearly 1.5 million tons of Kazakh oil transited through Azerbaijan, with plans to increase volumes significantly. He also cited efforts to deliver Kazakh uranium to foreign markets via Azerbaijan. Joint IT projects are also advancing, including plans to lay a fiber-optic communication line under the Caspian Sea. Tokayev commended the joint declaration on peace signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington under U.S. mediation, calling it a "historic" milestone in regional reconciliation efforts. Earlier on Monday, Aliyev had announced a significant policy shift, stating that Baku is lifting all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia. Middle Corridor as a Strategic Geopolitical Tool The Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, and Azerbaijan, was a major focus of Aliyev's state visit. Amina Kosbaeva of the Institute for Eurasian Integration noted that the corridor - which carried about 2.7 million tons in 2023 and 4.5 million tons in 2024, as traffic shifted away from traditional routes via Russia - is evolving into a strategic asset that enhances regional autonomy and global connectivity. Kosbaeva highlighted that both countries have built a sustainable cooperation model grounded in cultural commonalities and mutual trust. She identified agriculture, petrochemicals, and machine-building as key sectors where new supply chains could emerge, boosting trade and resilience to global market fluctuations. Kosbaeva added that future cooperation is likely to grow within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which held its 12th Summit in Gabala, Azerbaijan, on October 6–7, 2025. further institutionalizing bilateral ties as a driving force within the Turkic world. “The history of the Turkic peoples goes back to common roots,” Tokayev said at the summit, expressing support for the idea of a broader “Turkic-speaking States +” platform to expand cooperation. Business Relations Rooted in Political Alignment Kazakh political analyst Gaziz Abishev noted that Astana and Baku often align on geopolitical issues. “The relationship between the two countries proves that rigid multilateral blocs are not necessary for close alliances. Unconditional mutual sympathy at all levels, leaders,...

State Visit

Aliyev, Tokayev Pledge Deeper Cooperation as Azerbaijan Lifts Armenia Transit Ban

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev began a state visit to Kazakhstan on Monday with a series of high-level meetings and a significant policy shift: Baku is lifting all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia. The move, announced during joint talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, is one of the most concrete regional gestures since the end of the Second Karabakh War. The visit began with an official welcoming ceremony at Akorda Presidential Palace in Astana, where Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev reviewed an honor guard before holding bilateral talks and chairing the second meeting of the Kazakhstan–Azerbaijan Supreme Intergovernmental Council. Speaking at a joint press briefing after the meeting, Aliyev confirmed that, “All restrictions on the transit of goods from Azerbaijan to Armenia and from third countries to Armenia through Azerbaijan have been lifted.” While no formal agreement was signed on Monday, the announcement is being viewed as a confidence-building measure at a moment of cautious diplomacy in the South Caucasus. Tokayev welcomed the development and stressed the importance of expanding cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in key sectors such as transport and energy. Ties on a Strategic Track Aliyev’s visit comes as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are expanding cooperation in multiple areas, including rail, ports, digital infrastructure, and energy. Monday’s talks produced several new accords and project announcements, including commitments to expand freight flows along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor) - a logistics network connecting China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine upended established overland trade routes, the corridor’s importance has surged, with Astana and Baku positioning themselves as key actors in a reconfigured Eurasian logistics network that bypasses Russian territory. In his welcoming address, Tokayev framed Aliyev’s state visit as of “critically important significance for the further development of our strategic partnership.” Tokayev described the relationship as “allied in nature,” calling Azerbaijan “a regional power that has strengthened its authority on the international stage.” He emphasized that developing multifaceted cooperation “remains a priority” and highlighted trade, economic, and political partnership as key goals. “Azerbaijan is a special country for Kazakhstan, a fraternal state,” Tokayev stated. “We are united by common historical roots, a rich spiritual and cultural heritage, and, ultimately, a shared mentality and outlook on developments. On this unshakable foundation, we are successfully developing our multifaceted cooperation.” Aliyev, in turn, praised Kazakhstan’s ongoing political and economic reforms, saying his country “fully supports [Tokayev’s] course of modernization” and is aiming to “strengthen cooperation in all areas” In a related development, Azerbaijan’s state energy firm SOCAR and Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna are expected to deepen their collaboration in upstream energy projects and petrochemical exports, though no new energy deals were signed on Monday. Transit Opening to Armenia: Why Now? Aliyev’s announcement on transit restrictions - made in Astana, not Baku - was notable not just for its content, but its timing and setting. Since the end of the 2020 Second Karabakh...

Peace Initiative

Aliyev–Tokayev Talks Rekindle Momentum for Trump’s Peace Corridor

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Kazakhstan this week highlights the deepening strategic alignment between the two Caspian neighbors. Both are united by a drive to reshape Eurasia’s transport map through the Middle Corridor — a trans-Caspian route linking Central Asia to Europe — and its politically sensitive South Caucasus extension, the Zangezur Corridor. The meeting comes amid renewed optimism following the August 2025 U.S.-brokered declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The accord envisions a transit route linking mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via a roughly 20-32 km stretch of Armenia’s Syunik region. Under the framework, the United States would receive exclusive long-term development rights for infrastructure (railways, pipelines, fibre-optic cables) on that corridor — while Armenia retains full territorial sovereignty and the route operates under Armenian law. U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted the White House summit that produced the deal, said: “Thirty-five years they fought, and now they’re friends and they’re going to be friends for a long time.” The project is also known as the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), From Framework to Reality TRIPP remains far from implementation: Armenia and Azerbaijan still must ratify the agreement as a binding treaty, finalize the terms of U.S. development rights, and attract major investment for rail, energy and digital networks. Meanwhile, peace between the two remains fragile. Resistance from Iran, wary of being bypassed, and Russia, whose influence has waned since the war in Ukraine, complicates progress. Turkey’s backing, as a champion of trans-Turkic connectivity, will be crucial. Whether the “peace route” becomes operational or stalls as another geopolitical mirage depends on political consensus and sustained stability. A Trans-Caspian Lifeline For Aliyev and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, these uncertainties strengthen the case for deeper transport cooperation. During the visit, the two leaders will focus on transport integration, energy transit, and digital infrastructure, with attention to coordination among the Aktau, Kuryk, and Baku ports, building on existing MoUs and ongoing Middle Corridor initiatives. Discussions will also cover customs digitization and rail interoperability along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Although the Zangezur Corridor is not formally on the agenda, diplomats in both capitals suggest it looms large behind the logistics talks. For Kazakhstan, a functioning Zangezur link would tighten its connection to Turkish and European markets, reducing dependence on routes that traverse Russian or Iranian territory. For Azerbaijan, it would complete the east–west chain that underpins Baku’s Middle Corridor strategy — linking the Caspian directly to the Mediterranean through a unified Turkic transport system. For Kazakhstan, the Middle Corridor represents a strategic alternative to disrupted Russian transport routes, preserving the continuity of its westward trade and reinforcing its role as a key Eurasian transit state. The route—linking Kazakhstan across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan, and continuing through Georgia and Turkey—provides access to European markets while reducing dependence on northern pathways. For Azerbaijan, it consolidates its position as a central hub connecting the Turkic world to global trade networks. Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Ilham Aliyev have both framed...