For years, Azerbaijan’s relationship with Central Asia was viewed largely through the lens of shared Turkic identity, Caspian connectivity and energy diplomacy. However, that description is becoming outdated.

Azerbaijan is increasingly emerging as an active participant in the political and economic architecture of Central Asia, and among the countries in this geography, Uzbekistan stands at the centre of that transformation.

The clearest evidence came in November 2025, when Azerbaijan was granted full participation in the Central Asian Heads of State Consultative Meeting. A format historically built around the five Central Asian republics was effectively expanded into a C6 framework, which was in fact a recognition that Azerbaijan has acquired strategic weight in a region whose importance is growing rapidly.

Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev’s current state visit to Uzbekistan should be understood against that larger backdrop.

Uzbekistan’s rapidly expanding economic and strategic potential means that its role extends well beyond that of one of Azerbaijan’s closest partners. Tashkent has, of course, emerged as a key gateway for Baku, providing high-level access as Azerbaijan deepens its engagement with Central Asia and expands its regional........

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