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Baku–Central Asia cooperation gives new momentum to the Middle Corridor’s development – Uzbek political analyst

Shahodat Hashimova, political analyst and researcher at Uzbekistan’s Center for Foreign Policy Studies

16 November 2025 13:58 (UTC +04:00)

The participation of President Ilham Aliyev in the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia for the third time confirms that relations between Baku and the countries of the region have reached a high level, said Shahodat Hashimova, political analyst and researcher at Uzbekistan’s Center for Foreign Policy Studies, APA reports.

According to her, for Central Asia, Azerbaijan holds significant importance as a key link in the transit architecture that ensures access to European and other markets via the Caspian Sea and the South Caucasus: “Amid increasing attention to transport connectivity and the development of international corridors, Azerbaijan’s position is becoming even more strategic. Azerbaijan also remains a reliable partner in the energy sector. Baku is both a supplier of energy resources and an important partner for European consumers. In the future, Azerbaijan may become one of the main routes for transporting Central Asian energy resources to western markets. This fully aligns with the strategy of regional countries to expand their energy security and export capabilities. At the same time, Azerbaijan and Central Asian states pursue multi-vector foreign policies and attach special importance to diversifying international relations. Shared historical and cultural ties also create a favorable foundation for deepening political dialogue.”

Emphasizing that cooperation between Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan plays a decisive role in unlocking the full potential of the Middle Corridor, the analyst noted that the corridor is now considered one of the most promising routes connecting Europe and Asia: “One of the main areas of cooperation is the expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure, increasing route sustainability, and optimizing freight delivery. Within the framework of the international transport route ‘Middle Corridor,’ Azerbaijan is acting as the locomotive of the project by modernizing port and railway infrastructure. Central Asian countries highly value Baku’s efforts in this direction and actively contribute to the process.”

“Azerbaijan’s modern transport infrastructure – including the Alat International Sea Trade Port, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, its merchant fleet, and a network of nine international airports – is among the key factors strengthening the corridor’s competitiveness. The recent figures also confirm the effectiveness of cooperation. In 2024, the volume of transit shipments increased by more than 18 percent compared to the previous year. In the first ten months of 2025, more than one million tons of cargo were transported, which indicates that this dynamic growth is continuing,” she concluded.