Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan Elevate Ties to Strategic Alliance

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have transitioned their bilateral relations from a strategic partnership to an institutionalized strategic alliance. Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, announced the shift in Tashkent, describing the bond as an eternal friendship rooted in shared history and cultural ties. To formalize this political shift, the presidents of both nations are scheduled to sign a document on eternal friendship during an official visit.

This diplomatic elevation follows five years of intensive high-level engagement, including multiple state and working visits by President Ilham Aliyev and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The cooperation is anchored by the Supreme Interstate Council, established in 2023, which has held sessions in Tashkent and Baku and is currently preparing for its third meeting.

Regional cooperation has further expanded through a series of Azerbaijan–Uzbekistan Interregional Forums held between 2023 and 2025 in Tashkent, Guba, and Baku. Hajiyev characterized the transition as a landmark first in the diplomatic history of Azerbaijan.