Azerbaijan Joins Central Asian C5 Format, Transforming It into “C6”
Tashkent/Baku
Azerbaijan is set to become a full-fledged member of the Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia—commonly known as the C5 format—following a decision reached in principle among all participating countries. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the development earlier this week, confirming that Baku will formally join Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in what will now be known informally as C6. “All five countries have reached a consensus in principle on Azerbaijan’s accession to the Consultative Format,” President Mirziyoyev stated. “This step reflects our shared history, cultural bonds, and the need for deeper regional coordination in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.”
The expansion of the C5 to include Azerbaijan is expected to bolster cooperation on energy transit, logistics, and digital infrastructure. Baku’s membership will likely facilitate coordinated efforts to expand the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), harmonize customs procedures, and promote joint investment projects in renewable energy and green transport. According to regional economists, Azerbaijan’s entry may also lead to the creation of a C6 Economic Cooperation Council, aligning with President Mirziyoyev’s earlier proposal to institutionalize the format through a permanent secretariat. “Azerbaijan’s accession formalizes a reality that has already existed in trade and transport,” said one Central Asian analyst. “It transforms the C5 from a regional dialogue platform into a trans-Caspian coordination mechanism.”
Background: The Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia (C5) were established in 2018 to strengthen intraregional coordination. The format has since become a key platform for addressing security challenges, water resource management, and economic connectivity. With Azerbaijan’s inclusion, the mechanism will now link the Caspian Basin’s western and eastern shores, reinforcing its role as a central axis in Eurasian geopolitics.