The interview with Khayotjon Ibragimov provides a comprehensive assessment of the emerging C6 cooperation format, which brings together the five Central Asian states and Azerbaijan as part of a broader reconfiguration of the Caspian–Eurasian geopolitical space. According to Dr. Ibragimov, the transition from the C5 to the C6 framework represents not merely an institutional expansion, but the formation of a qualitatively new regional platform aimed at coordinated policy planning, economic integration, and long-term strategic connectivity across Eurasia. Uzbekistan, in this process, positions itself as one of the principal drivers of regional consolidation and institutional dialogue.
A central argument of the interview is that the C6 platform is contributing to the emergence of a new Caspian–Eurasian power geometry, where regional actors increasingly shape integration dynamics independently rather than functioning solely within external geopolitical frameworks. Dr. Ibragimov highlights the importance of developing sustainable regional value chains, emphasizing Uzbekistan’s potential role as an industrial and manufacturing hub capable of moving cooperation beyond trade expansion toward joint production, technological exchange, and deeper economic interdependence. This shift reflects a broader regional transition from raw-material export models to coordinated industrial development.
Particular attention is devoted to transport and logistics connectivity, especially the growing strategic relevance of the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor. The expert notes the rapid increase in cargo volumes and improved delivery times, presenting the corridor as an essential instrument of economic sovereignty and diversification rather than a competitor to existing northern or southern routes. In this context, diversification of transit pathways is framed as a mechanism of resilience, reducing systemic vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions and strengthening Eurasia’s multi-route connectivity architecture.
The interview also underscores the expanding energy dimension of regional cooperation. Uzbekistan’s evolving energy mix, combining conventional generation, hydropower potential, and ambitious renewable energy targets, positions the country as a potential integrator of regional electricity systems and future exporter of green energy. Overall, Ibragimov concludes that growing strategic alignment between Tashkent and Baku serves as a catalyst for wider regional integration, reinforcing institutional trust, infrastructure coordination, and the gradual formation of a more interconnected and strategically autonomous Caspian–Eurasian region.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
