Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Unite Efforts to Boost Regional Stability via ECO

Kazakh political analyst Nurbolat Nyshanbayev has said that the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), recently held in Azerbaijan’s Khankendi, represents more than a high-level regional gathering-it carries strategic and symbolic importance in light of shifting geopolitical dynamics in the South Caucasus.

Nyshanbayev said that the decision to host the summit in Khankendi sends a strong signal to the international community, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

“Choosing Khankendi as the venue for the ECO Summit sends a clear message to external players about Azerbaijan’s growing role as a regional hub for economic cooperation,” he stated.

Nyshanbayev emphasized that the summit acts not only as an economic milestone but also as a geopolitical statement, reflecting a regional order increasingly oriented toward sustainable development under Azerbaijan’s leadership.

The expert also outlined Kazakhstan’s strategic engagement within the ECO framework, describing it as a vital tool for expanding the country’s global reach:

“Strengthening Kazakhstan’s cooperation within ECO opens up strategically important economic and political opportunities. It grants access to expanded markets in South Asia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus, while enhancing the use of key transit corridors through Iran and Türkiye, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route,” he said.

Nyshanbayev noted that this diversification helps reduce reliance on traditional trade routes through Russia and China, boosting Kazakhstan’s resilience in international trade.

He also highlighted the role of energy and infrastructure collaboration within the ECO in enhancing Kazakhstan’s export capacity, particularly in the oil, gas, and logistics sectors.

“Politically, ECO serves as a platform for balancing Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy-strengthening ties with Islamic and Turkic states while expanding regional influence. It also offers Kazakhstan an opportunity to promote its own initiatives on the international stage and deepen its diplomatic presence in Central and South Asia.”

Nyshynbayev concluded that Kazakhstan’s active participation in ECO initiatives is paving the way for both economic stability and greater foreign policy autonomy.