Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Central Asia is becoming one of the key pillars of Eurasia's emerging geopolitical and geoeconomic architecture. Following Azerbaijan's victory in Karabakh, the rapid development of its ties with Central Asian states in both bilateral and multilateral formats is the result of a deliberate, long-term strategic policy pursued by the region's nations. This momentum is driven by evolving geopolitical realities, a model of cooperation rooted in mutual interests, and President Ilham Aliyev's consistent, pragmatic, balanced, and multi-vector foreign policy strategy.

Member of Parliament Rizvan Nabiyev made these remarks in a statement to Operativ Media.

"Today, Central Asian states view Azerbaijan as a reliable political partner, a vital transit hub, an attractive investment platform, and a leading actor driving deeper integration across the Turkic world. A major factor driving this process is head-of-state diplomacy. President Ilham Aliyev's personal relationships with all Central Asian leaders, including Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov—built on mutual trust, friendship, and open dialogue—provide a strong political impetus for deepening regional integration.

The conferral of Kyrgyzstan's highest state award, the Order of Manas, on President Ilham Aliyev by President Sadyr Japarov is a clear reflection of this high trust and Azerbaijan's growing regional influence. Similarly, President Ilham Aliyev bestowing Azerbaijan's highest state honor—the Heydar Aliyev Order—upon President Sadyr Japarov demonstrates that relations are anchored in mutual trust, strategic partnership, and the friendship between our peoples."

The lawmaker noted that Azerbaijan–Central Asia multilateral cooperation entered a qualitatively new phase at the 7th Consultative Meeting held in Tashkent in November 2025. The landmark decision adopted at that summit regarding Azerbaijan's full participation in the platform further consolidated the institutional foundation of the country's relations with Central Asia. As a result, Azerbaijan became a more active partner shaping the region's political, economic, and security agenda, unlocking new opportunities for cooperation in transport and logistics, energy, trade, and regional security. This decision also underscored Azerbaijan's reinforced standing as a key player in Eurasia's evolving geostrategic landscape.

"Through President Ilham Aliyev's well-thought-out foreign policy strategy, Azerbaijan has elevated its bilateral relations with all Central Asian states to the level of strategic partnership, while ties with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have reached an alliance level. The signing of the 'Treaty on Allied Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kyrgyz Republic' by President Ilham Aliyev and President Sadyr Japarov on July 31 serves as another confirmation of Azerbaijan's growing international prestige and its reputation as a reliable partner in the region. The alliance treaty with the Kyrgyz Republic is also a practical outcome of President Ilham Aliyev's consistent and principled foreign policy aimed at elevating strategic cooperation with Central Asian states to a new stage," he noted.