Strike near Nakhchivan raises fears of wider regional spillover in the South Caucasus
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linke...
Uzbekistan and Türkiye are negotiating new measures to ease legal labour migration, including an electronic work visa system for Uzbek nationals and a shared database of irregular migrants.
The discussions took place in Ankara as part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation in employment, data sharing, and migration management.
At a meeting between the Uzbek delegation and Türkiye’s Deputy Interior Minister Mehmet Aktaş, officials reviewed proposals to allow Uzbek citizens already residing in Türkiye under other visa categories to obtain work permits without leaving the country.
Turkish employers in the Antalya region also indicated interest in hiring between 500 and 1,000 Uzbek nationals for seasonal hotel work through the state employment agency Özel İstihdam Bürosu.
The Turkish side proposed the creation of a joint electronic database to monitor irregular migration and facilitate cooperation between the two countries’ migration authorities.
Uzbek officials confirmed that Ankara had expressed readiness to share technical expertise and support database integration. ‘Part of one Turkish family’

Earlier this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the people of Turkic nations, including those from Central Asia, could “count themselves as Turkish”, highlighting Türkiye’s ambition to strengthen ties with member states of the Organisation of Turkic States.
While his comments did not imply changes to citizenship or visa policy, analysts note that the shared linguistic and cultural background provides a supportive environment for new migration initiatives.
Officials expect a memorandum of cooperation between the two interior ministries to be drafted soon, outlining the procedures for visa issuance and data exchange.
Implementation may begin in early 2026, potentially streamlining labour mobility and deepening bilateral cooperation across migration and employment sectors.
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iranian civilian and military officials have pledged their obedience to the new leader, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, with President Masoud Pezeshkian saying his leadership “will herald a new era of dignity and authority for the Iranian nation.”.
Kazakhstan has evacuated more than 7,300 citizens from the Middle East since regional tensions escalated, using both air and land routes to bring nationals home while closely monitoring political developments and potential economic effects linked to rising oil prices.
Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus after a reported strike near Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, fuelling fears that instability linked to Iran could spill into the region, Dr. Erik Rudenskjold speaks to AnewZ.
Iran and the U.S. exchanged threats on Tuesday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Tehran to expect the “most intense day" of attacks so far. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “anyone who entertains the illusion of destroying Iran knows nothing of history."
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment