Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are taking region's geopolitics into their own hands

On October 21, the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Supreme Interstate Council was held in Astana with the participation of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The first meeting of the council was held on March 11, 2024 in Baku. The decision to create such a format was made a year earlier during the visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan. The leaders of the two countries signed a protocol on the establishment of the Supreme Interstate Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The creation of the Council showed the high level of friendship between the two countries and their extreme interest in cooperation. I must also mention the high level of respect and brotherhood that has developed between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The role of leaders is crucial, without mutual understanding between the top officials of the states, cooperation cannot reach the level that Baku and Astana have reached. The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is an example of the interaction of two sovereign countries linked by fraternal ties and understanding each other perfectly. The Baku-Astana dialogue is a kind of axis around which the relations between the South Caucasus and Central Asia are being built. 

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are the drivers of interregional cooperation. The two countries have always supported each other both in the political field and in economic initiatives. Azerbaijan needed such support during the period of territorial losses. The friendly shoulder of Kazakhstan has always been there and you could lean on it.

Today, when the Karabakh problem is no more, the bilateral relations are fully focused on economic cooperation. There are no political problems or misunderstandings between Baku and Astana. As it never was.

Interesting processes are underway on the economic track today. Indicators are increasing, interests are expanding, and plans are diversifying following growing opportunities.

On October 21, a presentation of the joint project "Development of the Middle Corridor" (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) was held in Astana with the participation of the leaders of the two countries. It was noted at the presentation that the volume of traffic between China and Azerbaijan through Central Asia is growing and is expected to triple by 2030. Concrete steps are being developed and initiatives aimed at increasing the profitability and competitiveness of the Middle Corridor are being discussed.

Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the issue of the Zangezur Corridor (TRIPP) as part of the Middle Corridor. "The opening of the Zangezur corridor in the coming years will significantly increase the capacity of issues related to transport and logistics," the head of state noted.

In a press statement after meeting with the President of Kazakhstan, Ilham Aliyev elaborated on this topic in more detail. He said that all works on road and rail communication in Azerbaijan will be completed by the middle of next year. "We hope that everything will be implemented in other countries with the same speed, and in this case, the opening of the Zangezur corridor may take place by the end of 2028," he said.

The Azerbaijani President has no doubt that The TRIPP (The Trump route for international peace and prosperity) project will definitely be implemented. If President Trump gave his name to this project, the project will definitely be implemented, the Azerbaijani leader noted. And he stressed that this opens up another route of the Middle Corridor: "In addition to the traditional one, there is another one through Zangezur with a cargo turnover of 15 million tons at the level of the most modern standards. So the volume of cargo from Asia to Europe and back through the territories of our countries has the potential to grow on its own, but it will also have even greater potential for receiving and shipping."

President Ilham Aliyev told reporters in Astana another very important and inspiring news: Azerbaijan has lifted all restrictions on the transit of goods to Armenia that have existed since the occupation. And a cargo of Kazakh wheat has already been delivered in transit to Armenia.

This is really very good news. It reinforces the hope that the peace process is irreversible. Economic interests are what creates the foundation for relations and political ones. Azerbaijan has made the right step by becoming a grain transit country for Armenia. He showed everyone that he was serious about peace for a long time. He showed that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as the President said, "is no longer only on paper, but also in practice."

Thanks to Azerbaijan, Armenia had the opportunity to become part of economic cooperation in a vast area, including Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It is very symbolic that the head of state announced such news on a Kazakh platform. While visiting close friends.

As for the bilateral economic relations, since the beginning of the year, the trade turnover has increased fourfold compared to the eight months of last year. This is a wonderful result. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan intend to increase the bilateral trade turnover to $1 billion in the near future. The parties are thinking about setting up joint ventures. There are plans for cooperation in the fields of shipbuilding, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, digitalization, and work is underway on a roadmap for the development of cooperation in the industrial sector. Proposals for joint financing through the mechanism of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan investment Fund are being considered. Also, as everyone knows, Kazakhstan supports Azerbaijan in restoring the liberated territories. Hundreds of young residents of the city of Fizuli are already visiting the Kurmangazy Center for Children's Creativity, built as a gift to the residents of Fizuli by Kazakhstan.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, said: "Azerbaijan is a special country for Kazakhstan, a fraternal state. We are united by common historical roots, a rich spiritual and cultural heritage, and, after all, an appropriate mentality, outlook on things, and the development of the situation. And on this unshakable basis, we are successfully developing our multifaceted cooperation."

Baku and Astana really have a common view on many issues. Therefore, the meetings are held, as the President of Kazakhstan said, in the most frank and relaxed manner on all key issues on the agenda, be it bilateral cooperation or international relations.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Alliance between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Over the past years, the two countries have become leaders in their regions and have become drivers of their development and integration. Here I would like to return to the role of leaders once again, because in his speech, the Kazakh President emphasized that the current high level of Kazakh-Azerbaijani relations was achieved primarily thanks to the personal contribution of President Ilham Aliyev. And you can't argue with that. In general, the Azerbaijani leader has done everything in his power to bring our country closer to the fraternal countries on the other side of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are a serious factor in regional geopolitics in their interaction. External players have to take this factor into account. In fact, our two countries control logistics along the East-West axis, being the hub countries on this route. The unity and fruitful cooperation of our countries will ensure the stability and development of the two regions, whose importance in the new geopolitical scenario is no longer disputed by anyone.