Azerbaijan Promotes the Turkic Trade Corridor: A New Variable in the Geoeconomic and Security Landscape

“The emergence of the Central Asia-Azerbaijan Union has fundamentally changed the geopolitical landscape of the region.” On January 5, 2026, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confidently articulated his vision at a press conference. He designated the organization of Turkic states as the basis for the trade corridor and emphasized the need to build a robust defense and security system.

The foundation for this plan was laid in November 2025 when the leaders of the five Central Asian republics formally accepted Azerbaijan into their annual council, upgrading the original C5 mechanism to a C6 mechanism.

Aliyev called this “a great political and diplomatic achievement.” He explicitly positioned Azerbaijan as a key hub connecting Central Asia with the West, asserting that Baku is “the only country today capable of reliably connecting Central Asia with the West.”

01 From C5 to C6: A Historic Shift in Central Asian Regional Cooperation

Azerbaijan's formal accession to the Consultative Conference of Central Asian Heads of State marks a significant adjustment in the Eurasian geopolitical landscape. This shift did not occur suddenly, but is the result of years of accumulated trade, energy, transportation, and cultural exchanges.

At the Seventh Consultative Conference of Central Asian Heads of State in November 2025, leaders of all member states unanimously agreed that Azerbaijan's accession is in the interest of the entire region. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called this day a "truly historic day," emphasizing that the people of the region are connected to the Azerbaijani people by centuries of history, kinship ties, and spiritual and cultural affinity.

During the conference, Aliyev revealed that he himself had visited Central Asian countries fourteen times in three years, while regional leaders had visited Baku twenty-three times, reflecting the high frequency and closeness of interaction.

The shift from C5 to C6 reflects substantial strategic considerations. Central Asian countries hope to leverage their geographical advantages to promote the construction of the Middle Corridor, expand exports to Europe, and enhance their resilience to geopolitical and geoeconomic shocks.

This change in mechanism enables Central Asian countries to participate in international affairs with a more unified stance, as demonstrated by their unified voice on issues such as water resource allocation and the situation in Afghanistan at the United Nations.

02 Trade Corridor Concept: Trans-Caspian Infrastructure and Connectivity

At the heart of Aliyev's envisioned Turkic Trade Corridor is a series of ambitious trans-Caspian infrastructure projects. He particularly emphasized a power transmission line carrying renewable energy generation from Central Asia to the European Union, along with supporting transportation arteries.

These facilities are progressing rapidly. Aliyev reported that freight volume through the "Middle Corridor" in Azerbaijan has increased by 90 percent in the past three years, with delivery times significantly reduced. He cited the progress of the Port of Aliat, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, nine international airports, and the near completion of the Zangezur railway within Azerbaijan.

Logistical efficiency is the core competitiveness of this corridor. As the impact of the Ukraine crisis continues, the instability of traditional logistics routes through Russia has increased, highlighting the strategic value of the Middle Corridor.

In 2025, the number of trans-Caspian freight trains increased by 33% year-on-year, and the number of China-Europe freight trains operating on the Middle Corridor exceeded 3,500 ahead of schedule, with the value per container 41% higher than that of ordinary trains. These figures demonstrate the economic viability of the new corridor.

Aliyev pointed out that infrastructure demand far exceeded expectations: “We originally thought that the infrastructure we were building would be sufficient to meet our needs for many years, but we now find that this is not the case.” This rapidly growing demand confirms the strategic foresight of the corridor concept.

03 Geostrategic Adjustment: From Economic Cooperation to Security Cooperation

In his speech, Aliyev announced plans to inject defense/security elements into the Organization of Turkic States in 2026 and proposed joint military exercises. This proposal marks a potentially significant shift in the organization's functions.

His assessment of the international situation was quite direct: “There is no international law in the world today. Everyone should forget that. Now there is only power, cooperation, alliances, and mutual assistance.” This realistic view reflects the security anxieties of many countries in the post-Ukraine crisis era.

The Organization of Turkic States, established in 2009, has primarily focused on promoting closer cultural and economic ties among its participating countries. Aliyev's proposal suggests the organization may be transforming into a more comprehensive regional cooperation organization.

The security cooperation initiative is not entirely unexpected. Similar trends have already emerged in Central Asia, such as Turkey's active projection of military power, leveraging its growing military strength, and demonstrating its military influence in the conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated at a previous meeting of leaders of the Organization of Turkic States: "The current global geopolitical situation is extremely complex. Therefore, Turkic states need to cooperate for common interests." This indicates a consensus among regional leaders on strengthening cooperation.

04 Key Challenge: The Armenian Corridor and Great Power Balancing

A key challenge facing the Turkic trade corridor concept is the construction of the trans-Armenian corridor. This 42-kilometer corridor, dubbed the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), traverses Armenian territory and is a core component of the interim peace agreement reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan last August, but construction has yet to begin.

At a press conference, Aliyev confidently stated that substantive work is about to commence, calling the corridor's construction a "resolved issue." He added, "News from Armenia also indicates that the actual construction of this road is planned for this year." If this prediction comes true, it will significantly enhance the corridor's feasibility.

The balancing act between major powers presents another complex challenge. In recent years, Turkey has aggressively intervened on multiple fronts in the region, becoming a significant player in regional conflicts. Simultaneously, Turkey pursues a fence-sitting policy between the US and Russia, being both a NATO member and maintaining close cooperation with Russia.

The Turkic trade corridor promoted by Azerbaijan will inevitably be placed within a larger-scale geopolitical competition. Like Turkey, Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries need to "try to become 'beneficiaries' of regional tensions amidst the US-Russia rivalry."

A reshuffling of power is underway in this region, with Turkey, leveraging its unique geographical location, growing military strength, and the Erdogan government's assertive foreign policy, transitioning from a supporting player to a leading player in Middle Eastern affairs.

05 Global Impact: Reshaping the Eurasian Economic and Security Landscape

The construction of the Turkic Trade Corridor may have a profound impact on the balance of power in Eurasia. When Central Asian countries are no longer merely passive recipients of great power rivalry, but begin to take the lead in setting agendas, building platforms, and establishing standards, this land will cease to be on the periphery and become a new center.

This change also affects the self-positioning of Central Asian countries. They are redefining themselves as "active participants in great power rivalry and global governance," rather than merely transit regions. This shift in positioning has significant strategic importance.

For China, this change in Central Asia presents new opportunities. During the Second China-Central Asia Summit in June 2025, the agreements signed by both sides specifically addressed practical areas such as the coordination of the China-Europe freight train timetable and the electronicization of international road transport permits. The China-Central Asia spirit has been concretized into six priority areas, including unimpeded trade, industrial investment, and green mining.

For Europe, a reliable trade route bypassing Russia is of strategic value. Particularly in the energy sector, Azerbaijan, as a Caspian oil and gas exporter, offers diverse options for energy transportation and hydrogen energy cooperation.

Another significant contribution of the C6 mechanism is its innovative regional integration model. It is not merely a platform for talks, but also a driver of substantive integration—from unified cargo inspection standards to coordinated energy policies. This multi-layered, comprehensive institutional coverage ensures that cooperation is not just a group photo at a summit, but a regular, interconnected process.

The redrawing of the logistics map has quietly begun—on the rails, in ports, and in the format changes of customs documents. By 2025, the number of trans-Caspian freight trains will increase by 33% year-on-year, and the value per container will be 41% higher than that of ordinary freight trains. Behind these figures are regional countries gradually reclaiming the right to define their own destiny by building railways, institutions, and trust.

When asked about the international order, Aliyev bluntly stated: "There is no international law in the world today. Everyone should forget that. Now there is only power, cooperation, alliance, and mutual assistance." This realistic view may explain why he was so eager to inject security elements into the organization of Turkic states and build a protective system for the new trade routes.