An analytical article authored by Ilyas Huseynov, Head of the Turkic World Research Center at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), has been published on the international analytical platform The Liberum. The article, titled “The South Caucasus as Europe’s Strategic Gateway: The Importance of the EU–Azerbaijan Partnership in the Turkic World,” examines the evolving strategic role of Azerbaijan in regional and interregional connectivity.
The article analyzes the geopolitical and geoeconomic significance of the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Azerbaijan. According to the author, the deepening European Union–Azerbaijan partnership, together with new investments mobilized under the Global Gateway initiative, as well as support for transport, digital infrastructure, and green energy projects, further reinforces Azerbaijan’s position as a strategic connectivity hub between Europe and Central Asia.
The author argues that the Middle Corridor has evolved beyond an alternative transport route to become one of the principal economic and logistics arteries linking Europe with the Turkic World and Central Asia. The analysis also highlights the strong complementarity between the Organization of Turkic States’ “Turkic World Vision – 2040” and the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy, particularly in the areas of transport connectivity, digital transformation, energy cooperation, and sustainable development.
The article further emphasizes that the initiatives implemented during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Organization of Turkic States—aimed at deepening regional integration, expanding transport connectivity, and promoting economic cooperation—have made a significant contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between Europe and the Turkic World.
In addition, the author notes that energy cooperation has entered a new phase of development. Green energy projects in the Caspian Sea, the Green Energy Corridor, and the opportunities created by COP29 are identified as key factors enhancing Azerbaijan’s strategic role in Europe’s energy security and sustainable development agenda.
In conclusion, the article argues that Azerbaijan has evolved beyond the role of a reliable energy supplier to become a strategic partner connecting Europe, the Turkic World, Central Asia, and the Global South through economic, transport, and geopolitical linkages.
The Liberum is an international analytical platform that publishes expert articles on international affairs, geopolitics, economics, security, and regional cooperation.