Ashgabat and Baku Are Coordinating Their Positions in the Caspian Region
Political consultations were held in Baku on February 27, reaffirming the strategic nature of relations between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The visit of the Turkmen delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Akhmet Gurbanov, included a meeting with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and a round of talks with Deputy Minister Samir Sharifov.
The diplomats noted that, thanks to the personal, trusting dialogue between Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Ilham Aliyev, as well as the active role of National Leader of the Turkmen People Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, fraternal ties between the two peoples have reached a qualitatively new level.
The central topic of the talks was economic integration in the Caspian Sea. The parties discussed in detail the expansion of multimodal transport corridors and the simplification of cross-border procedures, which is transforming the Caspian Sea into a key hub for global logistics. Particular emphasis was placed on the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, which should become the driving force for new energy and trade projects.
Issues of humanitarian rapprochement also moved into the practical realm: following the success of the Days of Culture of Turkmenistan in Azerbaijan last year, Baku is preparing to present its culture in Turkmenistan in 2026.
Symbolically, along with security and transit issues, diplomats highlighted shared spiritual values as the foundation of partnership. Promoting the art of carpet weaving and horse breeding traditions—two pillars of the cultural code of both peoples—was identified as an important tool of "soft power" in the region.
The results of the consultations demonstrated that Ashgabat and Baku are not simply developing neighborly ties, but are acting as a united front in shaping a modern architecture of cooperation in the heart of Eurasia.
