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...
Leaders of the Economic Cooperation Organization country-members will gather for the 17th summit hosted on 3rd and 4th July in Khankendi, Azerbaijan.
Reaffirming its leadership in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development, Azerbaijan will bring together ECO heads of states, senior government officials, ECO Observers, special guests from non-ECO countries and heads of international organizations to achieve prosperity through fragile economic integration, reads ECO 's statement.
The Summit will feature a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week, kicked on 1st July across multiple cities in Azerbaijan.
"This is the third time Azerbaijan hosts the ECO Summit, but, for the first time, it will be held in Karabakh. Thanks to the initiative and leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, this year marks the inaugural ECO Week involving a wide range of stakeholders. All these events are aimed at developing a shared vision for the future of the Economic Cooperation Organization for the next ten years," - stated Asad. M. Khan, the Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The ECO Week includes a series of thematic forums aimed at advancing youth engagement, gender inclusion and economic connectivity within the region.
The ECO Youth Forum with its thematic focus on “Enhancing the Role of Youth for Building a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future” was held in Aghdam on 1st July. The event centered on three main themes: Economic and Trade Cooperation, which explored opportunities for intra-regional trade, removing barriers, and promoting youth entrepreneurship and the digital economy; Sustainability and Technology, which addressed climate-resilient development and the role of AI and digital transformation in regional growth; and Human Development and People-to-People Ties, which focused on education, health, youth mobility, and tourism, while strengthening cultural and historical connections among member states. The outcomes of the forum reflect a collective commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient future, with young leaders at the forefront of this vision.
Today, ECO Women Forum focused on “Enhancing the Role of Women for Building a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Future” launched in Lachin, while the 6th Business Forum is gathering business leaders and investors in Fuzuli, under the theme of “Investment and Trade Promotion as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in the ECO Region.”
Currently ten countries from West and South Asia, Caucuses and Central Asia are members of the organization, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
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.
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