The very fact that high-level foreign dignitaries are now visiting these areas confirms a key reality: the global community acknowledges the new geopolitical landscape in the region and recognizes Azerbaijan’s restored territorial integrity and sovereignty—not only on paper, but through concrete political engagement.
For many of the summit participants, the visit to Azerbaijan is accompanied by substantial bilateral agendas.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Baku ahead of the summit. His visit includes a meeting of the Supreme Intergovernmental Council, bilateral negotiations, document signings, and visits not only to Baku and Khankendi, but also to Aghdam and Shusha. Azerbaijan also maintains a broad cooperation program with Kyrgyzstan, represented at the summit by President Sadyr Japarov, and especially with Pakistan—despite the recent trilateral summit in Lachin.
Observers have shown particular interest in Afghanistan’s participation, especially following Azerbaijan’s recent opening of an embassy in the country. There is much for Baku and Kabul to discuss. Azerbaijan had extensive cooperation with the previous Afghan government, often labeled “pro-Western,” particularly regarding the Lapis Lazuli transport corridor—a project with considerable future potential. Today, Azerbaijan is discussing the corridor with representatives of the new Afghan administration. Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister, Ali Asadov, held talks during the 17th ECO summit in Baku.
Iran’s Participation: The Central Question
The most anticipated development, however, remains the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran places high importance on ECO, which was established in Tehran in 1985 and hosts the organization’s leadership bodies.
Yet Pezeshkian’s participation in the summit in Khankendi carries deeper political significance—it marks his first foreign visit since the 12-day war. Many experts are closely watching to see whether this signifies a shift in Iran’s foreign policy—and if so, in what direction. The choice of Khankendi as the summit venue raises further questions, especially in the sensitive context of Iran’s balancing act between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Historically, Iran maintained closer relations with Yerevan than with Baku, despite cultural, religious, and historical ties with Azerbaijan. Tehran often criticized Azerbaijan’s secular governance model and its relations with Israel and the United States. In turn, Baku had its own grievances, particularly Iran’s cozy relations with Armenia.
However, the election of President Pezeshkian has brought change. A noticeable thaw has emerged in Azerbaijan–Iran relations. Just before the summit, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, walked back his earlier anti-Azerbaijani statements—an unprecedented move in Iran’s recent diplomatic history.
Let’s call it what it is: Khankendi is a symbolic location. Should the Iranian president visit the city, it would no doubt provoke outrage in Armenia. The mere willingness of Tehran to attend such a summit sends a powerful message. In the wake of Azerbaijan’s victory in Karabakh, Tehran’s friendship with Yerevan may be falling out of political fashion.
Azerbaijan’s Role in ECO: Energy and Transport Powerhouse
Azerbaijan holds strategic leadership within the ECO in key sectors—energy and transport. Its rich natural resources and favorable geographic location make the country a critical energy and transit hub for the region.
Baku plays a central role not only in energy production but also in exporting energy to international markets. Projects like the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku–Tbilisi–Erzurum gas pipeline, and the Southern Gas Corridor have significantly enhanced regional energy security.
Due to its geostrategic location, Azerbaijan is also a vital player in the North–South and East–West transport corridors. The country has heavily invested in the infrastructure for these routes and is a key driver of international initiatives like the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the Middle Corridor.
Today, Azerbaijan is rightly recognized as a transport leader within ECO. This was highlighted by President Ilham Aliyev at the 16th ECO Summit in Tashkent:
“Azerbaijan’s transport and logistics infrastructure is open to all ECO member states. In recent years, we’ve invested billions of dollars into developing our transport network. Azerbaijan has become one of Eurasia’s key logistics hubs. Both East–West and North–South routes are fully operational, and we are now working to increase the throughput of our railway lines in these directions.”
These statements underscore Azerbaijan’s commitment to expanding regional cooperation and modernizing its transport sector. Massive investments in multimodal infrastructure and the expansion of transport connectivity further solidify Baku’s position as a central logistics hub, advancing regional integration and easing trade across ECO member states.
Green Energy and Future Leadership
At the same time, Azerbaijan is rapidly strengthening its leadership in green energy. A new agreement has been signed within ECO to interconnect the energy systems of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan—focused on renewable energy utilization, improved energy resilience, and environmentally sustainable development. Talks are underway to establish a Clean Energy Center in Baku, positioning the country as a regional green energy leader.
A Geopolitical Shift East of the Caspian
The ECO has become a promising regional platform. Countries like Türkiye are increasing their political, economic, and military influence. Central Asian nations are diversifying their foreign policies, finding new partners, attracting investments, and reshaping their logistics and economies. More than 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the real geopolitical transformation east of the Caspian is only just beginning.
Azerbaijan plays a unique role in this process. Among ECO countries, it was the first to successfully emerge from the Soviet legacy and build a self-sufficient, modern, and effective state. Today, many countries east of the Caspian are looking to Azerbaijan’s model of state and military development.
This elevates the significance of the Khankendi summit. Azerbaijan’s brilliant victory in Karabakh did more than restore its territorial integrity and sovereignty—it proved the country’s political maturity. This has greatly enhanced Azerbaijan’s international standing.
Finally, the ECO itself is a vivid illustration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s famous phrase: “The world is bigger than five.” Azerbaijan has long served as a bridge between East and West, North and South—without adopting a Eurocentric worldview. The country has never viewed the world map through the lens of colonial hierarchies. Today, the ECO summit in Khankendi showcases Azerbaijan’s expanding diplomatic presence in new regions and on new platforms. And the country clearly has much to offer its partners.
