Azerbaijan’s independent, balanced and national-interest-based foreign policy enables the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with various geopolitical centers of power. The country’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its access to the Caspian Sea, and its developed transport infrastructure have turned Azerbaijan into an important connectivity hub linking Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe.

In this regard, President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Kyrgyzstan and his participation in the anniversary summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are of particular significance. The President’s participation in the SCO summit held in Bishkek, as well as in the “SCO Plus” format, demonstrates the strategic importance Azerbaijan attaches to this platform. During bilateral meetings held as part of the visit, the expansion of political, economic, energy, transport and humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and partner countries was discussed. These meetings make an important contribution to deepening Azerbaijan’s ties with both Central Asia and the broader Eurasian space. Commenting on the issue in an interview with International Radio, political analyst Tural Ismayilov said:

“Of course, Mr. President’s visit to Kyrgyzstan is aimed at participating in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In general, it should be noted that this is the President’s second visit to Kyrgyzstan in just a few months. Prior to this, Mr. President visited the city of Cholpon-Ata in Kyrgyzstan, where interstate agreements covering a number of areas were signed between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. Today, Azerbaijan is also among the leading countries partnering with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization under the SCO+ format, which is strongly supported by Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization”.

In any case, Azerbaijan’s deepening ties with the East, as well as the President’s latest visit to Kyrgyzstan, demonstrate just how important Azerbaijan is, both individually to the SCO member states and to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a whole.”

It should be noted that the SCO, which marks its 25th anniversary in 2026, is an important international platform covering a vast geographical area that includes China, Russia, the Central Asian countries, India, Iran and Belarus. Alongside security, the organization also operates in the fields of the economy, energy, transport, investment, science, education and humanitarian cooperation.

Transport and energy play a particularly important role in Azerbaijan’s cooperation with the SCO space. Located at the intersection of the East–West and North–South transport corridors, Azerbaijan provides important transit opportunities for China, Central Asia and other SCO countries to access European markets. The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, the Middle Corridor, the International North–South Transport Corridor and the Port of Baku strengthen Azerbaijan’s role in Eurasian logistics.

Azerbaijan’s position in the energy sector is also of particular importance. The Southern Gas Corridor is strategic infrastructure that transports Azerbaijani natural gas to Europe via Georgia and Türkiye. At the same time, projects such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, TANAP and TAP further enhance Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring energy security and diversified energy routes.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan’s relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are moving beyond the framework of formal partnership toward a multifaceted model of cooperation encompassing political, economic, energy, transport and humanitarian dimensions. President Ilham Aliyev’s participation in the SCO summit and the “SCO Plus” meeting, as well as his bilateral meetings held during the visit, once again demonstrate Azerbaijan’s active and balanced foreign policy in the Eurasian space. Deepening this cooperation will contribute to further strengthening Azerbaijan’s independent position in a multipolar world order and its regional geopolitical significance.