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Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan signed a joint declaration and pledged closer cooperation on Tuesday, as their presidents hailed a new era of regional connectivity and peace following a summit in Astana.
Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed several agreements during the second meeting of the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan Supreme Interstate Council in Astana on Tuesday, marking the 20th anniversary of their strategic partnership treaty.
The leaders endorsed the newly established Council of Foreign Ministers and issued decisions to strengthen bilateral ties across transport, energy and security sectors.
Speaking after the ceremony, President Aliyev said Azerbaijan had lifted all restrictions on transit goods to Armenia, adding that the first such shipment — Kazakh grain — had already been delivered. “This is a clear indication that peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia exists not only on paper but also in practice,” he said.
Aliyev further announced that all domestic infrastructure for the long-planned Zangezur Corridor would be completed by mid-2026, with full regional opening possible by the end of 2028. The corridor is part of broader efforts to connect the South Caucasus and Central Asia within the so-called Middle Corridor trade network.
Highlighting international backing, Aliyev reaffirmed support for the TRIPP project (Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity), describing it as “another route for the Middle Corridor” with expected cargo turnover of 15 million tonnes.
President Tokayev called the recent Washington-brokered peace agreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia “historically important,” praising his counterpart’s “firm political will” in pursuing a peaceful settlement. He also emphasised that Azerbaijan remains a “fraternal state” for Kazakhstan, united by shared cultural and historical ties.
Both leaders underlined the geopolitical importance of growing Baku–Astana cooperation, with Tokayev stating the visit “holds critical significance for the development of strategic partnership.”
Kazakhstan has consistently supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity during previous conflicts, Aliyev noted, expressing gratitude for Astana’s diplomatic stance.
The Supreme Council session concluded with a pledge to deepen collaboration on infrastructure, trade, and foreign policy coordination — with both presidents positioning their countries as key players in an emerging Eurasian transport and political architecture.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The death toll from the collapse of two residential buildings in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has risen to 15, state media said on Monday, as rescue teams wrapped up search operations and officials warned that more people could still be missing.
António José Seguro’s decisive victory over far-right challenger André Ventura marks an historic moment in Portuguese politics, but analysts caution that the result does not amount to a rejection of populism.
J.D. Vance met Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev in Baku on a rare visit by a sitting U.S. vice president, signalling a renewed push to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan on energy, security and regional stability.
A scheduled visit to Ankara this week by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will seek to “resolve all our problems at the table,” Ömer Çelik, a spokesman for Türkiye’s ruling AK Party, has said.
The European Union is preparing a further expansion of its sanctions against Russia, with Central Asia emerging for the first time as a distinct point of focus.
Azerbaijan and the United States signalled closer economic ties on Monday (9 February) as President Ilham Aliyev hosted a delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the country’s investment appeal and growing interest from American companies.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
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