Leaders Pashinyan and Aliyev confer at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit gathering

In the heart of the Caucasus region, changes are afoot. On Monday, leaders from various nations convened at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan among the attendees.

The summit followed an unprecedented three-way meeting in Washington on 8 August, resulting in a joint seven-point declaration between the three leaders. This declaration marked a significant step towards regional reconciliation, as Aliyev and Pashinyan emphasised the need for constructive dialogue, mutual trust, and regional stability.

One of the key topics discussed was the prospect of joint energy projects between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The potential for increased cooperation was also explored in other countries, with Aliyev meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before their meeting with Pashinyan. Discussions between the two leaders touched upon cooperation between SOCAR and Turkey's BOTAS company.

Aliyev and Erdogan also highlighted the positive dynamics formed as a result of the recent summit in Washington. They discussed the One Belt, One Road initiative and the importance of Chinese goods being transported through Azerbaijani territory.

In another significant development, diplomatic relations were established between Armenia and Pakistan. This newfound relationship may pave the way for Armenia joining the SCO, with Pakistan being a member state. The establishment of these relations was one of the key outcomes of the Washington summit.

The Washington summit also disclosed the US involvement in the unblocking of a route through Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

Aliyev and Xi Jinping, the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, signed a joint declaration on strategic cooperation following their meetings. They discussed increasing trade turnover, expanding cooperation in fields such as energy, renewable energy, and the digital economy. Aliyev and Xi also emphasised Azerbaijan's support for China's positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

India, however, spoke out against Azerbaijan's application to join the SCO, likely due to Azerbaijan's close ties with Pakistan. Despite this opposition, Pashinyan expressed Armenia's desire to join the SCO, and an agreement was reached to deepen cooperation within the framework of the SCO.

Following the meeting with the Chinese President, a strategic partnership was established between Armenia and China. Pashinyan also met with several leading representatives of other SCO member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, but there is no explicit confirmation that he met with every leading representative of each member state individually.

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In the midst of these changes, it is clear that the Caucasus region is poised for significant developments in the coming months and years. The SCO summit serves as a testament to the growing cooperation between nations in the region and the potential for a more stable and prosperous future.

Leaders Pashinyan and Aliyev confer at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit gathering