Editor’s note: Sanat Kushkumbayev, Doctor of Political Sciences, is the Chief Researcher at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of News.Az.

Against the backdrop of profound geopolitical shifts across Eurasia — from the war between Russia and Ukraine to the reconfiguration of trade and transport routes across the Caspian region — questions surrounding constitutional reform, regional integration, and the future balance of power in Central Asia and the South Caucasus are gaining renewed significance.

In an interview with News.Az, Kazakh political analyst Madi Omarov shares his assessment of Kazakhstan’s constitutional transformation, the prospects for deeper cooperation between Baku and Astana, and the broader strategic role of regional actors amid intensifying global competition.

Editor’s Note: Aytaj Mahammadova is an energy security expert affiliated with the Caspian-Alpine Society. The views expressed in this article are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of News.Az.

James Sharp, former UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan and current Board Member of the Caspian Policy Centre, has praised Azerbaijan’s rising role in transport and logistics, emphasizing its strategic importance for both regional development and broader connectivity across the Caspian region.

Over the past five years, trade turnover in Central Asia has surged by over 80 percent, surpassing $10 billion, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said at the 6th Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State in Astana, News.az reports via the Tajik president's press office.