Caucasus

In Ashgabat, the daughters of Berdymukhamedov (Turkmenistan), Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan) discussed cooperation on the environment and health and opened an international art exhibition. An iconic event reflecting the family succession of power and the portrayal of women in Central Asian regimes.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi wants regional energy networks and transport infrastructure to make his country a transit hub between the Persian Gulf, Turkey and European markets. While the ‘Development Road’ project, linking the port of Al Faw to the Turkish border, also presents a new opportunity for Azerbaijan.

More and more citizens of the Islamic Republic are looking to Armenia for work, often in unskilled labour roles. Once tourists, today an increasing number are employed in construction, transport or deliveries. In Turkmenistan, Pezeshkian and Pashinyan are aiming to strengthen bilateral relations and investment.

A new regulation on school uniforms introduced last month, which bans ‘elements that contradict the principle of secular education’, is sparking fierce protests in Azerbaijan. Underlying this is the sensitive issue, common to the whole of Central Asia, of striking a balance between religious freedom and the fight against fundamentalism.

To mark International Geodiversity Day, Novosti-Armenia has selected seven sites that particularly clearly demonstrate the country’s geological diversity.

Washington is seeking to consolidate its presence in the South Caucasus as a counterweight to Russia, Iran and China. It is doing so through action in three areas: the economic sphere, via trade corridors and control of resources; the geopolitical sphere, through the supply of arms; and digital cooperation at an institutional level.

Baku wants the development of the route linking China to Europe to encompass transport, energy, digital infrastructure, investment and human capital. The volume of goods transported in the first half of 2026 has already reached almost 2 million tonnes. And in August, the laying of a fibre-optic cable on the seabed of the Caspian Sea was completed.

On display at the Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum, the carpets were presented to Pope Leo XIV by the government of Azerbaijan. A documentary titled Harmony, featuring three women from the three faiths, was also produced. For Azerbaijani Ambassador Mukhtarov, diversity creates richness, like interwoven threads.

As Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia undergo restructuring, the balance of power shifts, spanning everything from politics to infrastructure. Moscow maintains complex, multifaceted relationships with Baku, Yerevan, and Tbilisi, with the ultimate outcome proving “crucial” for the region. The International North-South Transport Corridor is strategic for supply chains.

The various drinks offered to guests in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan embody not only gastronomic preferences but also a cultural code rooted in the geography and history of each of the three countries. A journey through flavours, ancient trade routes and identities.

The water level of the Caspian Sea has been falling since the mid-1990s and reached a historic low in 2025, dropping by 29 meters. The problem is having a negative impact on navigation, necessitating repairs to canals and piers in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, new islands are emerging off the coast of Kazakhstan.

Moscow is particularly important for Azerbaijan’s non-oil exports, whilst Armenia remains its main trading partner and a major tourist destination. Supplies of wheat and fuel are essential for the Georgian market.