live Trump urges action at Strait of Hormuz as 20,000 sailors stranded- Middle East, 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fa...
The first Azerbaijan–Türkiye Think Tank Forum concluded on Monday in Shusha, bringing together leading analysts, experts and academics from both countries for a day of discussions on regional politics, strategic coordination and shared foreign policy priorities.
The forum, held at the Shusha Hotel, continued into private exchanges after the panel sessions ended. Participants reviewed the outcomes of the day’s debates, with proposals expected to be refined and later conveyed to the governments of both countries. Organisers noted that the role of think tanks is not to make decisions, but to prepare the intellectual groundwork on which governments base them.
The event was organised by the Centre for Analysis of International Relations, alongside Türkiye’s Strategic Research Centre. Opening remarks by AIR Centre Chairman Farid Shafiyev and SAM Chairman Polat Safi underlined the forum’s purpose in strengthening regional partnerships and expanding institutional cooperation between policy research institutions.
The first session focused on the foreign policy lines pursued by Baku and Ankara, highlighting areas of clear convergence rooted in the treaty bound strategic alliance between the two states. Experts examined cooperation across defence, trade and energy, as well as coordination in regions such as the Middle East and Central Asia. Azerbaijan’s growing role within the Central Asia platform, often described as transforming the 5 plus 1 format into an effective Central Asia 6, was noted as an important development for bilateral cooperation.
Discussions also touched on complex regional files, including political dynamics in Iraq and Syria, the wider situation in the Middle East, and the evolving context of relations with Iran. Analysts explored the extent to which improving economic and political ties between Baku and Tehran could develop further.
Throughout the day, speakers emphasised that while Azerbaijan and Türkiye are close allies under the Shusha Declaration, this does not imply identical positions on every issue. Experts said differences, where they exist, are managed through structured coordination and dialogue.
The forum featured three panel sessions covering foreign policy, economic cooperation, connectivity projects and regional integration frameworks. The event strengthened institutional ties between Azerbaijani and Turkish think tanks and laid the groundwork for future joint analytical initiatives.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is escalating further with missile and drone attacks, expanded strikes on key infrastructure, and growing regional fallout. At the same time, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate began to emerge amid rising global energy and security concerns.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum says around 25 kilometres of the TAPI gas pipeline have been laid in Herat province, as work continues on one of the region’s largest energy projects.
A man previously convicted of spying on Türkiye has been arrested by Turkish and Syrian authorities after more than a decade on the run, Turkish security sources said on Monday.
Uzbekistan is hosting the fifth-anniversary Space Technology Conference - Central Eurasia (STC 2026), bringing together more than 400 delegates, 24 sponsors and representatives from 32 countries to discuss the region’s space industry and expand international cooperation.
Kazakhstan remains among the least dependent countries in Central Asia on Chinese capital, maintaining a diversified external debt structure and greater financial flexibility than its regional peers.
Israel’s parliament has passed a law allowing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly attacks on Israelis, a move that has sparked sharp criticism both domestically and internationally.
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