The New Eurasian Nexus: Azerbaijan's Strategic Integration with Central Asia

The 7th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State in Tashkent, on November 16, was a key moment in Eurasian geopolitics. Azerbaijan, formerly an honorary guest, officially joined as a full member, turning the regional group into a six-nation bloc. This wasn't sudden but came after years of growing cultural, economic, and political ties. The Central Asia+Azerbaijan partnership signals a new center in Eurasia, located between Russia, China, and Europe. This analysis looks at the origins, geopolitical factors, strategic results, and future of this regional structure, examining how shared interests are becoming a unified political and economic unit.

1. The Start of a New Regional Structure

The Central Asia+Azerbaijan partnership comes from a growing convergence of interests. It's important to understand the key things that made this integration possible—shared culture, increased diplomacy, and geopolitical changes—to see its strategic value. These things together have created conditions for a new, more integrated regional bloc.

1.1. Key Factors and Diplomatic Activity

This alliance is built on shared history and culture. President Ilham Aliyev has said that Azerbaijan and Central Asia are a single historical and cultural geographic region, which other leaders agree with. This base of shared Turkic background, language, and traditions gives a strong reason for closer integration that goes beyond just economic or political benefits.

This cultural base has been supported by increased diplomatic activity in recent years. The amount of interaction shows a shared commitment to building a lasting partnership:

• President Aliyev has visited Central Asian countries 14 times in the last three years.

• Central Asian leaders have visited Azerbaijan 23 times in the same period.

This frequent interaction isn't just for show. Azerbaijan's step-by-step integration was clear when President Aliyev attended the 2023 Dushanbe and 2024 Astana meetings as an honorary guest, showing a deliberate path to full membership.

1.2. The Post-Karabakh Geopolitical Factor

Azerbaijan's regained territory has been a major factor, changing its regional position. Now without an active conflict, Baku is a more assertive player, able to influence and start regional actions. Central Asian states have strongly supported this new situation, showing support in rebuilding Azerbaijan’s territories.

This support goes beyond words to include strategic investments in a shared logistical future. These things are a show of support by Central Asian states to ensure the stability and development of the areas needed for the Middle Corridor to work. Key projects include:

• The Mirzo Ulugbek School in Fuzuli, a gift from Uzbekistan.

• The Kurmangazy Children’s Creativity Centre in Fuzuli, from Kazakhstan.

• A mosque in Fuzuli built with support from Turkmenistan.

President Aliyev has called these contributions a lasting sign of our brotherhood and solidarity. They are investments that show the depth of the partnership and a shared view for regional stability and growth.

1.3. The Turkish Angle and Pan-Turkic Structure

The Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) has been a key structure for building ties between Azerbaijan and the Turkic states of Central Asia. The OTS gives a formal platform for cooperation based on shared identity, but the new Central Asia+Azerbaijan is a practical move beyond that.

The OTS, which includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan as members, and Turkmenistan, Hungary, and Northern Cyprus as observers, creates a cultural and political agenda. It creates a space for coordinating policy, strengthening the ties that support the new bloc. The 6 format focuses on geo-economics and regional logistics over the broader identity politics of the OTS.

This network of historical ties, diplomacy, and structures has set the stage for a new regional group, shaped by the interests of outside powers.

2. The Big Power Context: Outside Influences on a Rising Bloc

The integration of Azerbaijan and Central Asia is happening as the region is a focus of competition among global powers, mainly Russia and China. The creation of this six-member bloc is partly a response to these pressures, trying to find a balance between different frameworks. It's important to understand the influence of these powers to assess the bloc's potential for independence and its future direction.

2.1. China's Economy and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

China is a main economic power in the region, through its One Belt, One Road initiative. Azerbaijan is key to the Middle Corridor, a trade route connecting China to Europe that avoids Russia. Beijing’s interest in this corridor has grown as tensions have made northern routes difficult. This relationship became official in 2024 when Azerbaijan and China increased their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with trade reaching $3.744 billion.

China, with Russia, has influence through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. Azerbaijan has tried to join as an observer. Sources say that India has blocked this, because of Azerbaijan's close relationship with Pakistan, showing the India-Pakistan rivalry.

This has made the Central Asia+Azerbaijan format a strategic choice—a balance that is more cohesive than the SCO, where rivalries can cause problems, but more focused on geo-economics than the OTS. The 6 format takes the best parts of both.

2.2. Russia's Position and Regional Change

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has changed its influence in the former Soviet space. Moscow is still a key player, but its focus on the war and the sanctions against it have allowed regional states to find other partnerships.

Political analyst Elxan Şahinoğlu says Central Asian states are concerned by Russia's political power and China's economic power, so they are seeking ties with the United States and the European Union.

The 2022 Kazakh unrest was a key moment. The crisis needed the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to restore order. Central Asian leaders saw the need for an outside intervention as a reason to create their own security and dialogue framework. This event changed the Central Asia+Azerbaijan format from a chance into a need, pushing them to build internal mechanisms and reduce reliance on Moscow for stability.

The influence of these powers is the background against which the Central Asia+Azerbaijan bloc is building its own path, seeking to grow its geo-economic potential.

3. Future and Results of Integration

The Central Asia+Azerbaijan integration is creating a new geo-economic situation. This partnership is built on projects and growth in trade, investment, and transport. The 6 format will help these trends, creating a more cohesive regional market.

3.1. Economic and Investment

Economic data shows growing integration among the six nations. Trade and investment are growing, with new mechanisms to support joint projects and economic cooperation.

Indicator	Data/Status
Regional Mutual Trade (2024)	$10.7 billion
Overall Investment Growth (in C.A.)	17% increase (in 2024)
Joint Investment Funds	Established between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Proposed Regional Brand	"Made in Central Asia" under consideration.

3.2. The Middle Corridor

The main driver of this is the Middle Corridor, a transport route that connects Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan is the critical link, and recent growth has been high. Cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan has increased by 90% in the past three years.

A key part of this network is the Zangezur Corridor. Its construction in Azerbaijan is almost done, with a capacity of 15 million tons. This route will be important to the Middle Corridor, enhancing the bloc's transit potential. The corridor is also called the Trump Route, which came about during the Trump administration's mediation. This name signals Western, particularly US, support for the project, as opposed to Russia's influence over regional transport.

3.3. From 5+1 to a 6

The main result of this summit is the change of the regional format. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, said, From this moment on, Central Asia acts as the '6'. This change from 5+1—where Azerbaijan was an outside partner—to a 6 shows a change in strategy.

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Central Asia now form a single geopolitical and geo-economic region. This means that the member states are moving toward a more integrated model of policy, where shared issues are addressed together, increasing their influence.

This has effects for how the bloc deals with global and regional challenges.

4. Global and Regional

The formation of the Central Asia+Azerbaijan bloc has effects for major international issues. From dealing with the war in Ukraine to addressing governance and human rights, the bloc's actions will have an impact.

4.1. Dealing with the War in Ukraine

The bloc's focus on the Middle Corridor provides an alternative to trade routes through Russia. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, companies and governments have tried to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on Russia.

The Central Asia+Azerbaijan format, with its east-west connectivity, is positioned to take advantage of this shift. This gives the member states a way to increase their economic independence and protect their trade from the situation around Russia. This has increased infrastructure development along the corridor and strengthened the rationale for the bloc's existence.

4.2. Human Rights and the Alliance

While the bloc is growing economically and politically, it faces criticism regarding the governance of its members. From one view, the Central Asia+Azerbaijan format is a group to protect each other from democratic pressures and dissent.

This view is supported by human rights concerns across the member states. A summary of key issues shows a pattern of governance:

• Kazakhstan: The government faces criticism for restrictions on expression and assembly. There has been a lack of answerability for the events of 2022. Recent cases include the prosecution of journalist Jamilya Maricheva for spreading false information and the sentencing of activist Duman Mukhamedkarim for alleged extremism. Authorities have blocked LGBTI-focused websites, and the ruling Amanat party has taken steps to designate the NGO Feminita as extremist.

The result of this approach to governance is that, internally, it may foster political alignment and stability by creating a front against threats. But, it is likely to create friction with Western democracies, which place human rights at the center of their foreign policy. This political alignment has results for each member state's strategy, especially for Azerbaijan.

5. Effects for Azerbaijan's National Strategy

For Azerbaijan, integration into the Central Asian format is a strategic move. This partnership supports its position as a Eurasian actor and provides chances to advance its economic, industrial, and security interests.

5.1. Enhancing Economy and Connectivity

Membership in this bloc strengthens Azerbaijan's role as a transport hub connecting Europe and Asia. This goes beyond agreements, creating a framework for coordinating transport policy, tariffs, and customs, increasing the Middle Corridor's efficiency.

This gives Azerbaijan access to Central Asian markets for its goods, especially agricultural and industrial products. It strengthens the country's economy through transit revenues and attracts investment, such as the Port of Alat.

5.2. Strengthening Security Cooperation

The 6 also extends to security. President Aliyev has the importance of cooperation in defense and security. This is seen as a response to threats, including terrorism and crime.

By fostering security ties, the bloc is positioning itself as a security structure. This could, reduce the dependence on providers like the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). For Azerbaijan, which is not a member of the CSTO, this offers a platform for security dialogue with its partners, enhancing its independence.

Conclusion

Azerbaijan's integration into the Central Asian format is a geopolitical shift, creating a Eurasian bloc. This 6 formation is the result of factors, including historical ties, the post-Karabakh realignment, and the need to grow trans-Eurasian trade routes. The Middle Corridor is the backbone of this partnership, turning the region into an artery for commerce.

The effects of this integration are large. The bloc establishes a center in Eurasia, providing its members a platform to protect against over-reliance on Russia and China. At the same time, its models present a front of states, which may create friction with the West even as economic ties grow. The Central Asia+Azerbaijan format may be a model for middle-power in an emerging world. It is a form of movement, based on geo-economic and independence rather than Cold War , positioning itself as an actor in the 21st-century.