View: What Erdoğan’s 'symbolic steps' mean for the South Caucasus
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus following the second Karabakh war, questions are growing over what Presi...
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.
The delivery began on 18 December, when Azerbaijan shipped oil products to Armenia by rail, signalling that dialogue between the two countries is translating into practical economic cooperation.
The initial shipment consists of 22 rail tank cars carrying 1,210 tonnes of AI-95 petrol, produced by Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR.
Officials on both sides have described the export as a significant step that goes beyond political statements and reflects the real economic benefits of peace.
The fuel shipment follows an agreement reached on 28 November in Gabala, a city in the north west of Azerbaijan, where Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev met with Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.
During that meeting, the two sides discussed measures to build trust and revive economic links that had been severed by decades of conflict and closed borders.
Azerbaijani officials say the export demonstrates the country’s readiness to engage in mutually beneficial trade with Armenia, while Armenian representatives have framed the delivery as a practical contribution to energy security and economic stability.
Both governments have highlighted the symbolic importance of rail transport, which had been suspended for years due to hostilities, as a foundation for restoring broader connectivity in the region.
Analysts say the move could have far-reaching implications beyond fuel supplies.
By reopening trade routes and establishing reliable commercial ties, the agreement will help strengthen regional integration, encourage further economic cooperation and create momentum for additional confidence-building measures.
In the longer term, they argue, such steps could pave the way for expanded trade across the South Caucasus, linking Armenia, Azerbaijan and neighbouring states through revived transport and energy corridors.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
As Türkiye seeks to play a more active diplomatic role in the South Caucasus following the second Karabakh war, questions are growing over what President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan means when he refers to taking “symbolic steps” towards regional normalisation.
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.
Uzbekistan has increased up electricity exports to Tajikistan as part of wider regional efforts to stabilise energy supplies during periods of seasonal shortage and reduced water availability.
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity.
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