High‑Level Aze‑Uzbek Talks Boost Bilateral Cooperation

On 23‑24 August, at the invitation of Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev paid a two‑day state visit to Tashkent. The two heads of state chaired the third session of the Supreme Interstate Council and signed a number of important bilateral documents, lifting Azerbaijan‑Uzbekistan cooperation to a brand‑new level.

The most notable outcome of the visit is the official signing of the Treaty on Eternal Friendship. Built on the 2024 Treaty of Alliance, it further consolidates their allied partnership. Following the talks, Mirziyoyev publicly described the visit as a milestone, noting that bilateral relations are now at their historic high. The two leaders hold the view that Central Asia and the South Caucasus form a single geopolitical and geo‑economic space, and their cooperation will directly shape development trends across the wider region.

Economic and investment issues stood at the heart of the summit. Statistics show that bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan reached USD 795 million in 2025, having tripled over the past five years. The two sides set an explicit target to lift bilateral trade above USD 1 billion by 2030.

Substantial progress was registered on a series of tangible joint projects. Azerbaijan’s state‑owned ABB Bank plans to acquire a 51‑percent stake in Uzbekistan’s Davr Bank; the transaction is pending local regulatory approval. The USD 5‑billion Sea Breeze Uzbekistan tourism‑real‑estate project is to be implemented around the Charvak Reservoir near Tashkent. Bilateral oil‑and‑gas exploration work is nearing completion; should results meet expectations, production‑well drilling may commence next year. Running parallel to the presidential visit, the Azerbaijan‑Uzbekistan Regional Cooperation Forum brought together provincial authorities, who identified numerous avenues for partnership in mining, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.

On connectivity, both sides agreed to step up efforts to develop the Middle Corridor (Trans‑Caspian Transport Route). They will jointly improve logistics infrastructure along the route, raise freight capacity between Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Europe, and unlock the potential of cross‑regional transit traffic.

Beyond bilateral affairs, the presidents held thorough exchanges on regional security and multilateral engagement. They will continue to coordinate positions within the Turkic States Organization, the Non‑Aligned Movement, the United Nations and other bodies, while discussing practical security challenges in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. During the visit, it was also agreed that the two countries will co‑host the 2027 U‑20 Men’s World Cup.

At the close of the summit, a comprehensive package of accords covering investment, finance, energy, tourism‑culture and humanitarian exchanges was signed, setting out a roadmap for bilateral work in the years ahead. Analysts observe that as Azerbaijan sits in the South Caucasus and Uzbekistan is a key Central‑Asian power, this high‑level engagement will deepen ties among Turkic‑speaking nations and exert lasting influence over Caspian‑area logistics and energy configurations.

Co‑operation Invitation Should you be interested in geopolitical research, project matchmaking or information services concerning the South Caucasus and Central Asia, please feel free to reach out for exchange and potential cooperation.