BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. Turkmen President
Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived in Baku on October 15 to participate
in the 7th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence
Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held under Azerbaijan’s
chairmanship. The summit’s agenda covers both political dialogue
and confidence-building among participating countries and practical
areas of cooperation related to digitalization and sustainable
economic development.
Speaking at the summit, the Turkmen leader highlighted the
special role of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship in the organization’s
history and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation.
“I express my gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
for the high level of organization. In this regard, we support the
chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov
said.
In his remarks, the President of Turkmenistan also linked
regional cooperation to the exchange of experience, overcoming
obstacles and developing new economic opportunities, while
specifically highlighting the role of artificial intelligence and
the need for a responsible approach to its use.
Meanwhile, the intensity of high-level contacts has become one
of the defining features of Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan relations.
According to a statement issued by the Azerbaijani presidential
press service on October 8, five reciprocal high-level visits have
taken place since 2025. The frequency of these contacts reflects
sustained political dialogue, through which the two sides regularly
coordinate bilateral priorities and identify new areas of
cooperation.
A landmark stage was reached during Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s
state visit to Baku on June 22, 2026. Following the visit, the
presidents signed a Joint Statement, while representatives of
relevant government agencies exchanged a package of documents
covering energy, industry, agriculture, customs cooperation,
finance and contacts between the two foreign ministries. In
particular, the industrial cooperation program runs from 2026 to
2028, while the cooperation program between the foreign ministries
covers 2026-2029. These documents establish timeframes for sectoral
engagement and ensure continuity in the diplomatic agenda.
Political agreements have also been followed up at the
intergovernmental level. At the ninth meeting of the Joint
Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, held in
Ashgabat on July 8, the sides discussed energy, transport and
logistics, transit, digital development and telecommunications. The
signing of the final protocol formalized further steps to advance
cooperation. In diplomatic practice, such mechanisms help translate
decisions made at the highest level into coordinated work by
relevant ministries and agencies.
Another indication of the regularity of political contacts was
the meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Serdar Berdimuhamedov in
Turkmenbashi on October 8, held on the sidelines of regional
events. The presidents discussed prospects for cooperation in
political, economic, transport, transit, logistics, cultural and
humanitarian affairs, as well as cooperation on Caspian issues and
within international organizations.
The continuity of these contacts shows that the bilateral agenda
is advancing through several diplomatic channels simultaneously: at
the level of heads of state, intergovernmental structures and
relevant agencies. The combination of political dialogue and
institutional mechanisms provides a foundation for further
substantive discussions on economic and regional projects.
In turn, the economic dimension of Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan
relations is reflected both in bilateral trade dynamics and in the
development of industrial and transport links. According to
Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, bilateral trade
turnover reached $208.39 million in 2025. Azerbaijani exports
accounted for $63.85 million, while imports from Turkmenistan
amounted to $144.54 million. According to Azerbaijan’s State
Customs Committee, Azerbaijani exports to the Turkmen market
increased by 23% year-on-year to $52.1 million in January-August
2026, exceeding the figure for the same period last year by $9.76
million.
One of the most tangible examples of practical cooperation in
Caspian shipping was the transfer to Turkmenistan of the Dostlug
oil tanker, built at the Baku Shipyard. The vessel, measuring 141
meters in length and 16.9 meters in width, with a deadweight of
7,875 tons, was presented to Turkmenistan as a gift on June 22,
2026, in the presence of Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serdar
Berdimuhamedov. The project demonstrates not only Azerbaijan’s
shipbuilding capabilities but also the tangible dimension of
bilateral partnership in maritime infrastructure.
Another indication of expanding maritime cooperation was the
arrival of the Gadamly dry cargo vessel at the Baku International
Sea Trade Port on May 12, 2026. It was the first vessel of its kind
built in Turkmenistan. The welcoming ceremony in Baku, attended by
representatives of the two countries’ transport and logistics
sectors, underscored the practical interoperability of their
maritime infrastructure. Combined with the development of port
capacity and multimodal transport, such initiatives create
conditions for expanding trans-Caspian cargo flows and
strengthening the role of maritime transport in regional logistics.
The actual impact, however, will depend on commercial vessel
utilization, the regularity of services and the competitiveness of
transport tariffs.
The geoeconomic significance of the Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan
partnership is determined not only by bilateral trade but also by
the two countries’ positions within the trans-Caspian transport
network. Turkmenistan provides Central Asian producers with access
to the western shore of the Caspian Sea, while Azerbaijan connects
maritime transport with the railway, road and port infrastructure
of the South Caucasus. In this configuration, the Caspian serves
not so much as a geographical divide as a transport and logistics
bridge between two regional economic spaces.
The practical value of this position lies in the potential to
integrate national transport systems into multimodal supply chains
serving the markets of Türkiye and Europe. In particular, the
Middle Corridor connects Central Asia with the South Caucasus and
onward to European destinations via the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan and
Georgia. For Ashgabat, developing this route means diversifying its
export and transit geography and expanding access to external
markets. For Baku, it strengthens the country’s role as a transit
hub linking the Caspian basin with western transport networks.
This approach has already found concrete expression in
diplomatic initiatives. During his visit to Tbilisi in July 2026,
Serdar Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s interest in
developing the Caspian Sea-Black Sea international transport
corridor along the Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania route.
At the same time, the Turkmen side was exploring the possibility of
establishing its own cargo terminal on Georgia’s Black Sea coast.
For Azerbaijan, such initiatives are important in consolidating its
position within a transit chain whose competitiveness depends on
the coordination of the entire transport and logistics system.
Trend has previously
examined this issue in its analytical article, “Turkmenistan pushes West
via Georgia - with Azerbaijan as linchpin.”
The article noted: “Without Azerbaijan, forging a comprehensive
alliance, developing trade, and pursuing logistical initiatives
would be challenging for Tbilisi and Ashgabat. Azerbaijan's
involvement enables the integration of a vast area, stretching from
the Black Sea, across the Caucasus Mountains, to the Caspian Sea,
extending through the Kopetdag Range and Karakum Desert, and
reaching the Pamir Mountains. These geographical features form a
natural boundary separating the Middle East from the broader
geopolitical space of the former USSR, which still maintains
elements of previous integration through the Commonwealth of
Independent States.”
However, geographical advantages alone do not guarantee economic
returns. In a report published in September 2026, the World Bank
noted that developing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor requires
substantial investment in railway and port infrastructure, the
digitalization of procedures, and coordination among operators.
According to the organization, a comprehensive package of
infrastructure investment and reforms could more than triple trade
volumes along the route by 2040 and halve transit times. For
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, this means that the next stage of
cooperation should involve not only political coordination of
transport priorities but also greater operational compatibility
between infrastructure systems, more predictable tariffs and more
efficient cross-border cargo movements.
Notably, the issues the World Bank identifies as conditions for
improving the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor
resonate with the agenda of today’s CICA summit in Baku. Serdar
Berdimuhamedov arrived at a forum whose priorities include
strengthening regional connectivity, digitalization, and
sustainable economic growth. In his remarks, the Turkmen president
highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence and the need
for a responsible approach to its use.
This opens up a promising avenue for bilateral cooperation with
Azerbaijan. Alongside the development of port infrastructure and
the expansion of cargo flows, the two sides could pay greater
attention to digital transit management, transport data exchange
and the simplification of administrative procedures. Such
mechanisms could make transport operations more predictable and
reduce costs for participants in logistics chains.
Ultimately, the sustainability of Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan
relations depends on the two countries’ ability to consistently
advance political dialogue and translate it into tangible economic
outcomes. Regular high-level contacts, the work of the
intergovernmental commission, cooperation in shipbuilding, and
expanding trade links provide a foundation for further
rapprochement. The next task is to ensure continuity in
implementing the agreements reached, broaden business
participation, and create conditions for new joint projects. With
this approach, the partnership between Baku and Ashgabat can be
strengthened through further expansion of long-term economic ties,
mutual investment and projects that deliver practical benefits to
both countries.
