Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Georgia
The agenda of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in April–May was marked by visits to countries that are long-standing strategic partners of Azerbaijan – Türkiye and Georgia.
On April 6, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, held a personal meeting with the President of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, in Tbilisi, during which, in particular, the importance of the transport and energy projects jointly implemented by Azerbaijan and Georgia was emphasized, and their strategic and economic significance was noted. At the bilateral summit, the role of Azerbaijan and Armenia in ensuring stability and security in the South Caucasus was also emphasized.
During the visit to Georgia, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, also met with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze. Following the meeting, I. Kobakhidze said that global geopolitical changes as a whole further increase the significance of the Middle Corridor, including the Black Sea and the South Caucasus, as a strategic space. Being a bridge connecting Asia and Europe, our countries play an important role in transport infrastructure. In this regard, we attach special importance to the development and modernization of transport and logistics infrastructure. «Georgia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly proven that we are reliable and responsible partners in international energy and transport projects. Cooperation between the countries of the South Caucasus opens new perspectives for the entire region,» the head of the Georgian government noted. President Ilham Aliyev, in turn, expressed confidence that Georgian-Azerbaijani relations will continue to develop steadily. «As Mr. Prime Minister noted, we have always supported, support, and will support the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and inviolability of each other’s borders,» the head of state said.
According to I. Aliyev, the two countries have achieved great success in the economic sphere. Last year our trade turnover exceeded 800 million dollars, and in the first quarter of this year, growth remained quite high. «If this continues, by the end of the year we will likely reach the one-billion mark. As I have already said, the very favorable investment climate in Georgia also attracts Azerbaijani investors, and to date, Azerbaijan has invested 3.7 billion dollars in the Georgian economy. Today we exchanged views on new investment projects for both Azerbaijan and Georgia, and at some point, joint investments in third countries may also be considered.»
«For many years, Azerbaijan has been taking steps in the energy sector that have strengthened the energy security of many countries. Today, Azerbaijani gas is exported to 16 countries. However, this export still begins with Georgia, and Georgia is the first country here. Both Azerbaijani oil and gas are exported to world markets through Georgia, and oil resources from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea are transported through Azerbaijan and Georgia. We have spoken enough about this existing infrastructure. All of this infrastructure is in plain sight, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been functioning successfully for 20 years. After it, the Southern Gas Corridor was also implemented, and today this infrastructure, in essence, is of immense importance for a vast territory. Then we built transport corridors through these arteries, and today work is underway to expand them. The Middle Corridor passes through Azerbaijan and Georgia. This is our main transport artery, and additional efforts are being and will be made to expand it,» the head of state emphasized.
On April 16-17, I. Aliyev took part in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The forum was also attended by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif; the President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar; the President of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova; the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu; the President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa; the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye; the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi; the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denis Bećirović; the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze; and heads of other delegations.
On April 17, a meeting was held in Antalya between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The prospects for Azerbaijani-Moldovan relations were discussed, the development of bilateral ties was emphasized, and the role of mutual visits at various levels in expanding our cooperation was touched upon. It was highlighted that there are broad opportunities for cooperation between our countries in the energy sector. The support provided by Azerbaijan at a time when Moldova was in particular need of energy was once again highly appreciated.
Furthermore, as reported by AZERTAC, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, met in Antalya with the Interim President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Touching upon the importance of cooperation in the energy sector, the significance of implementing the project for the export of Azerbaijani gas to Syria from Türkiye was noted, as well as its contribution to the energy security of Syria and its overall development in the country.
On April 17, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, met with the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Tufan Erhürman, in Antalya. The President of Azerbaijan stated that our country has always supported the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and emphasized that the support provided will continue in the future.
During the conversation, the importance of the 3rd meeting of the friendship groups of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and the Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, held in Baku in April of this year, was noted.
Given that Azerbaijan’s cooperation with Northern Cyprus is carried out in the trilateral Azerbaijan- Türkiye -Northern Cyprus format, the meeting emphasized the importance of the participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Organization of Turkic States as an observer, and discussions were also held on issues of cooperation in a number of areas.
Kazakhstan-Russia-Tajikistan-Mongolia-Türkiye
An active regional agenda has become the primary trend during the visits of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the countries of the Caspian region and Northeast Asia, which are global players on the world geopolitical stage.
For instance, on May 9, a meeting between Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place in Moscow. During the meeting, the heads of state discussed a wide range of bilateral agenda issues ahead of the Russian leader’s upcoming state visit to Kazakhstan at the end of May. The President of Kazakhstan specifically noted that cooperation between the two countries is on the rise and is developing dynamically in all areas, while over the last five years Russia has been one of the main investors in the Kazakh economy. «Trade is developing successfully. According to forecasts, by the end of this year, we will confidently pass the $30 billion mark — this is a good indicator,» said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In turn, Vladimir Putin noted Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s personal contribution to strengthening relations between the two states.
On April 21, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, who arrived in Astana to participate in the Regional Environmental Summit and the meeting of the Council of Heads of State Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. The heads of state discussed the current status and prospects of Kazakh-Tajik relations, agreeing to raise the level of strategic partnership between the two countries. Special attention during the conversation was paid to issues of trade and economic cooperation and interaction in the water and energy sector. The meeting participants emphasized the importance of full implementation of all previously reached high-level agreements. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Emomali Rahmon also exchanged views on current topics of the regional and international agenda.
The visit of the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, to Astana deserves special mention. “It holds particular significance for our country, as Mongolia is an important regional partner and a good neighbor for Kazakhstan. We agreed on further increasing cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres, among others. The trade volume between Kazakhstan and Mongolia last year amounted to over $130 million, increasing by 7.7%. At the same time, the economic potential of our countries allows for a several-fold increase in current indicators. Therefore, we intend to bring the trade turnover to $500 million in the near future. Achieving this goal requires expanding the range of supplies and consistently eliminating barriers that hinder economic cooperation. About a month ago, a Kazakhstan trade mission visited Mongolia, during which a number of proposals for diversifying economic cooperation were initiated. Kazakhstan ratified the Interim Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Mongolia, which opens up broad opportunities for our states, noted President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to the President of Kazakhstan, one of the key topics of the negotiations was the expansion of interaction in the transit and transport sphere. «It is obvious that in the future, the launch of the Kazakhstan–Mongolia highway will give a powerful impetus to trade relations, and its transit potential will bring tangible benefits to our neighbors as well,» said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In turn, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh spoke highly of the negotiations, as well as the established strategic partnership and cooperation between the two countries.
On April 17, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the panel session «Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties» of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The event was moderated by Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Türkiye and former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The President of Kazakhstan shared his vision of the main trends and challenges facing the global community in 2026 and shaping the international agenda for the near future. Kazakhstan expressed solidarity with the Gulf countries. «We called on all states to exercise strategic restraint and cease military actions. Everyone has felt the negative consequences of this conflict. Above all, the economy has suffered significantly. Today, everyone is talking about the free movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. But we must take into account the fact that before the conflict, this maritime corridor was open for free trade. Therefore, we must focus on the essence of the problem. And the essence of the problem lies in the proliferation of nuclear technologies and nuclear weapons. This issue should be the central theme of negotiations when it comes to the conflict surrounding Iran. But now we have switched to discussing global trade issues. Despite everything, global trade is growing. Last year alone, the growth was 2.5%. So, things are not all that bad with world trade. But the quality and content of trade is a major problem,» said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The President called for a responsible approach to the issue of UN reform, pointing out that one of the reasons for the Organization’s crisis are the positions of the permanent members of the Security Council. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also emphasized the important and positive role of so-called middle powers, which include Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and other countries that demonstrate greater responsibility than the major powers represented in the Security Council, which, unfortunately, often block the resolution of key global problems, the Head of State stressed. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for studying the impact of artificial intelligence on the activities of international organizations and noted the need for a radical reform of the global Organization.
TURKMENISTAN – RUSSIA –
KAZAKHSTAN
The 17th International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum 2026” took place on May 12–17 in Kazan, gathering a record number of participants from 103 countries. Key delegations included representatives of the government of Afghanistan, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, ministers from Egypt and Mali, as well as participants from Russia.
The National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, arrived in Kazan on a visit to participate in the event.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin also held a telephone conversation with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. During the discussion, the parties addressed topical issues regarding the further strengthening of the Russian-Turkmen strategic partnership. Special attention was paid to the development of cooperation in trade, economic, cultural, humanitarian, and other spheres.
The importance of the upcoming Meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of State, scheduled for October and to be chaired by Turkmenistan, was separately emphasized.
On April 21, 2026, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, departed for the Republic of Kazakhstan on a working visit to participate in the Regional Environmental Summit and the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State-Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.
During his speech at the Regional Environmental Summit, he noted the severity of environmental threats and climate change, which have a negative impact on all aspects of life. At this summit, Turkmenistan put forward initiatives to establish a regional center for climate technologies, as well as a regional center for combating desertification for Central Asian countries.
“We emphasize the need to take practical measures to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change and adapt to it. It is also crucially important to promote the principles of ‘green’ development in all sectors of the economy. We must intensify regional dialogue on ecologically sustainable development and the implementation of modern environmental standards,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov stressed.
He also outlined a number of concrete measures:
First, strict compliance with key conventions and other international documents on water issues;
Second, the interests of all states located along transboundary rivers must be equally taken into account;
Third, the broad participation of international organizations in this work, primarily the United Nations. In this regard, Turkmenistan initiated the creation of a regional council on water resources management in Central Asia under the auspices of the UN. This council could become an effective structure for coordinating efforts in the water sector. At the same time, our country, as a state in the Caspian region, actively participates in all environmental issues concerning the Caspian Sea.
“We presented the Caspian Environmental Initiative at the United Nations, prepared the concept for its implementation, and sent it to all Caspian littoral states. Furthermore, in August of last year, Turkmenistan organized a meeting on the environmental issues of the Caspian Sea at the level of vice-premiers of the Caspian states within the framework of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. Continuing this experience, we will hold another summit in early October of this year. We hope that as a result of this event, we will enter a new stage of cooperation regarding the environmental well-being of the Caspian littoral states and the preservation of the Caspian Sea and its unique nature.”
“The issue of saving the Aral Sea also remains important. Today, a meeting of the Council of Heads of State-Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea will take place. I am confident that the necessary decisions will be made regarding joint work aimed at saving the Aral Sea,” the President of Turkmenistan said.
Thus, the UN crisis, energy security, and the transport agenda became the central themes of the visits made by the heads of the Caspian states—namely, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan—to the countries of Central Asia and Northeast Asia.
Despite the difficulties, the problem of climate change and the ecology of the Caspian and Aral Sea water basins remains the focus of attention, and the parties continue to put forward initiatives to prevent their depletion. Being located at the center of a strategic basin between India and the Atlantic Ocean, the countries of the Caspian region are increasingly establishing a policy of cooperation and good-neighborliness, at the heart of which are energy security, transport complementarity, and the economic integrity of the region.