Prospects for Azerbaijan–Türkiye ties in 2026 will largely depend on regional peace efforts and the broader geopolitical environment in the South Caucasus according to a regional analyst.
Türkiye–Azerbaijan trade and investment talks at the 12th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission (JIC), held in Baku on 22–23 December, are being framed as a key moment in efforts to expand bilateral economic cooperation.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has welcomed the reopening of cargo transit between Armenia and Azerbaijan saying it could open new economic opportunities across the region.
Israel’s government has approved the creation of 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that analysts say further undermines the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.
Iran’s renewed call for international burden sharing in hosting Afghan refugees has revived a familiar narrative - that refugees are an economic strain rather than a source of long-term value. Analysts say this framing overlooks decades of contribution by Afghan refugees across the region.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced the arrival of the first rail shipment of Azerbaijani petrol on Friday, calling the delivery — the first such transfer between the two countries in decades — a sign that “peace has now become a reality”.
AnewZ has launched a new investigations unit with the premiere of The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form documentary marking the debut of AnewZ Investigations, its cross-border reporting initiative.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Tokyo represents more than a strengthening of bilateral relations; it is a strategic step that broadens the economic and diplomatic horizons of the region.
An international scientific-practical congress marking the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named after Aziz Aliyev has opened in Baku.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
Kyrgyzstan is increasingly being described as one of the fastest growing economies in Central Asia.
Armenia–NATO talks were held in Yerevan as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska to discuss cooperation and regional security in the South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan has begun exporting oil products to Armenia, with the first shipment delivered on 18 December 2025. It marked a notable milestone in the peace process and efforts to deepen economic cooperation between the two long-time rivals.
A mass wedding brought together 203 grooms and 203 brides in the Zawayda area of the central Gaza Strip on 18 December. The ceremony was organised by the Turkish Ribat Association.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrapped up visits to Belarus and Russia during which he held high-level talks on closer bilateral relations and major regional developments.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk visited Yerevan to participate in the Armenia-Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting, as both countries review economic cooperation.
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's “symbolic steps” in the region are becoming a point of focus.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
Emirati investment has become a central element of Azerbaijan’s renewable energy ambitions, prompting fresh focus on whether recent high-level visits were also aimed at accelerating a shift beyond oil and gas.
A major financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a flagship cross-border infrastructure project expected to reshape transport connectivity across Central Asia.
