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On October 20, 2025, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in the Republic of Kazakhstan for a state visit.
At the International Airport of Astana, an honor guard was lined up in tribute to the President of Azerbaijan. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally welcomed Ilham Aliyev.
On October 21, 2025, an official welcoming ceremony for the President of Azerbaijan took place at the “Akorda” Presidential Palace in Astana.
The high-level talks held during the visit demonstrated that relations between the two brotherly nations have entered a new stage of development.
The sincere and trust-based dialogue between Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reflected the mutual determination to further strengthen the strategic partnership.
President Tokayev’s words — *“Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are not only friendly states but also brotherly nations”* — accurately convey the ideological and spiritual foundation of today’s relations.
President Aliyev’s response highlighted that this unity is built on mutual respect and equality:
“We share the same feelings toward the brotherly people of Kazakhstan.”
Both leaders emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan extend far beyond bilateral cooperation — they aim to strengthen Turkic unity and to shape a new geopolitical model of stability across the Eurasian region.
In recent years, economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has grown significantly.
In 2024, trade turnover between the two countries reached 470 million US dollars; by January–August 2025, this figure had already climbed to 547 million dollars — a clear result of the successful implementation of projects under the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route).
During the presentation of the “Middle Corridor Development” project, the heads of state were informed that transit traffic along the China–Azerbaijan–Georgia route is expected to triple by 2030.
This will further reinforce the roles of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan as key transport and logistics hubs.
The route passing through the ports of Aktau and Alat is becoming a new “Silk Crossing” of the Turkic world — both economically and geopolitically.
The successful implementation of the agreement between SOCAR and KazMunayGas on oil transit through the Ceyhan port ensures the sustainability of energy cooperation.
Starting from 2025, 1.5 million tons of Kazakh oil are expected to be transported annually via this route.
The new phase of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan extends beyond traditional economic areas, encompassing modern domains such as digital transformation and green energy.
The agreement signed in March 2025 on the construction of an undersea fiber-optic communication line along the Caspian seabed will strengthen digital integration between the two nations.
Moreover, the agreements between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to interconnect their energy systems aim to ensure the energy security of the Turkic states within a unified regional framework.
Cultural ties between the Kazakh and Azerbaijani peoples form the deepest foundation of these strategic relations.
In recent years, the organization of “Days of Kazakh Culture” and “Days of Azerbaijani Culture,” as well as the publication of works by the prominent writer Kemel Tokayev in Azerbaijani, have served as vivid examples of this cultural closeness.
Projects carried out within the framework of the International Turkic Academy and TURKSOY continue to promote the integration of Turkic culture.
The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is gaining new momentum not only on a bilateral level but also within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
As President Ilham Aliyev noted, the OTS today is *“a driving force in turning the Turkic nations into a center of unity, economic power, and political influence.”*
The planned 2026 celebration of the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress at the OTS level will symbolize the unity of historical traditions and modern realities.
One of the key topics discussed by the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan concerned the ecological challenges of the Caspian Sea, particularly its declining water levels.
Both sides underlined the importance of scientific cooperation and joint efforts in this area, viewing the Caspian as *“a symbol of shared responsibility and solidarity.”*
Today, Azerbaijan–Kazakhstan relations stand not only as an example of bilateral friendship but also as one of the fundamental pillars of Turkic unity in the emerging Eurasian order.
This cooperation serves as a locomotive for economic, energy, and cultural integration between East and West, Europe and Asia.
The meeting in Astana on October 21, 2025, demonstrated that under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the fraternal ties between the two nations have reached a truly strategic level.
At the heart of this unity lie not only political interests but also shared history, language, culture, and a Turkic vision oriented toward the future.
Author: Gavamy Sadygbeyli, Azerbaijan
