Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia pledge to expand regional connectivity

(Horizon Media / ISTANBUL) — The foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia agreed on Monday to strengthen regional cooperation in transport, energy and trade, placing the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Middle Corridor at the heart of their joint strategy to enhance connectivity between Asia and Europe.

Meeting in Istanbul in the trilateral format established in 2012, the ministers signed a declaration reaffirming their commitment to the sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of the three countries, as well as backing Georgia’s territorial integrity.

The declaration highlights plans to deepen cooperation in rail, road and air transport, renewable energy, green energy transmission, trade and investment. The three sides also underscored the strategic importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor for regional stability and European energy security.

The ministers welcomed the recent completion of modernization works on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, describing it as a key component of the Middle Corridor trade route.

During the joint press conference, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also reiterated Ankara’s support for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, expressing hope that a peace agreement would be signed without delay. He added that Turkey continues its separate normalization talks with Armenia in close coordination with Azerbaijan.

The next trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Georgia in 2027.