Headlines from the Caspian: September 29, 2025
Recent Articles
Author: Caspian Policy Center
09/29/2025
Energy and Economy
Sixth Annual Caspian Business Takes Place in New York
On September 23, CPC held its sixth annual Caspian Business Forum in New York in partnership with the embassies of the Caspian Region. The event brought together key stakeholders from the United States and the Caspian Region to discuss and strategize emerging business and energy landscape across the South Caucasus and Central Asia, with a focus on growing regional connectivity and finance. The keynote remarks were delivered by Caleb Orr, Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau; Conor Coleman, Head of Investments at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); and representatives of the Caspian region countries including Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant of the President of Azerbaijan; Magzum Mirzagaliyev, Advisor to the President of Kazakhstan; Öztürk Selvitop, Director General for Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Türkiye; and Lasha Darsalia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The Forum’s second panel, “Critical Minerals—Solving Supply Chain Challenges,” focused on how the United States is increasingly turning to resource-rich regions like the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and Ukraine as it faces mounting pressure to secure stable access to critical minerals and rare earth elements.
Source: Sixth Caspian Business Forum Press Release
Uzbekistan Signs $8 Billion Deal with Boeing
Uzbekistan Airways announced the largest deal in its history to acquire twenty-two 787 Dreamliner commercial aircraft from the U.S. aerospace manufacturer. The deal, which was confirmed on September 22 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly aims to support Uzbekistan’s goals to transform the county into Central Asia’s premier aviation hub. U.S. President Donald Trump praised both Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the deal, stating that it would create 35,000 jobs for Americans
Türkiye-U.S. LNG Deal
On September 24, Türkiye announced a deal with independent energy trader Mercuria to acquire U.S. liquified natural gas over a 20-year period. The deal came ahead of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, in which Trump called on his counterpart to halt purchases of Russian LNG. The move comes as Russia’s supply deal with Türkiye ends this year, and Ankara seeks to diversify its energy supplies as the European Union seeks to block all imports of Russian LNG by 2026.
Türkiye-U.S. Nuclear Agreement
On September 25, the United States and Türkiye signed a civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding. Although details of the memorandum have not been released, Ankara and Washington have been discussing collaborations on both large-scale nuclear plants and small modular reactors.
Source: Turkish Minute
Kazakhstan Reaches $4.2 Billion Deal with U.S. Locomotive Manufacturer Wabtec
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that a deal was struck between Wabtec and Kazakh national railway company Kazakstan Temir Zholy on September 22. The deal came after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The new agreement aims to supply 300 new locomotives to Kazakhstan over the next decade, creating 11,000 U.S. jobs in the process.
Tajikistan’s Reliance on International Financial Institutions
In a recently published report, Tajikistan’s 82 government infrastructure projects have been found to rely heavily on international donors. Organizations like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development, provide around 97 percent of financing or about $4.5 billion for all 82 projects. Of these investments, $3.2 billion are grants and $1.2 are loans. The energy sector receives the largest share of the investments, $1.6 billion with the next highest, transportation, at $1.2 billion.
Source: Eurasianet
Uzbekistan-Russia Dual Nuclear Deal
Uzbekistan has confirmed a deal with Russia state nuclear company Rosatom to construct two nuclear power plants. The first is a large plant consisting of two 1000-megawatt reactors, and the second will be two small modular RITM-200N units at the same site in Uzbekistan. This construction plan is the culmination of previous Uzbek-Rosatom agreements from 2018 and 2024. Operational by 2035, it is estimated that both the large and small nuclear power plants will add around 15-billion-killoowatt hours to Uzbekistan’s power grid.
Source: The Times of Central Asia
Politics and Security
Kyrgyz Parliament Votes to Hold Snap Elections
On September 25, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament unanimously voted to dissolve itself, triggering snap elections a year ahead of schedule. Although an official date has not been set, Parliament Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek said he expects the snap elections to take place on November 30. Members claim the scheduled November 2026 parliamentary election was too close to the January 2027 presidential election, posing a financial and organizational challenge. The snap elections will likely consolidate power under President Sadyr Japarov ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Source: Reuters, Eurasianet
Pashinyan Meets with Putin at Global Atomic Forum in Moscow
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the event, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, to discuss nuclear cooperation as part of Russia’s World Atomic Week. Putin reiterated Rosatom’s commitment to extending the lifespan of the nuclear corporation's present nuclear power plant in Armenia, which supplies up to 30 percent of the country’s energy. On the other hand, Pashinyan expressed interest in the construction of newer, smaller nuclear power plants, though he did elaborate as to which partner country he will choose.
Sources: kremlin.ru, azatutyun
Armenia’s Constitutional Referendum Planned for After June 2026 General Elections
On Saturday, September 20, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan implied that his country’s highly anticipated constitutional referendum will be held after his political party, Civic Contract, secures a vote of confidence in the country’s June 2026 general elections. At this time, the successful adoption of a new constitution through this constitutional referendum is a necessary condition for neighboring Azerbaijan to ratify the seventeen-point bilateral peace agreement initialed in Washington early last August.
Source: azatutyun
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev Speaks at General Debate at the UN General Assembly
Aliyev began his speech by celebrating Azerbaijan’s reclaiming of Karabakh and praising the U.S. President Donald Trump for facilitating both the strategic US-Azerbaijan partnership and for supporting peace with Armenia. Aliyev called upon neighboring littoral states to cooperate in stopping the environmental degradation and shrinkage of the Caspian Sea. He also called for measured energy diversification and stressed Azerbaijan’s openness to further renewable energy investment.
Source: United Nations
Georgia’s President Mikheil Kavelashvili Speaks at General Debate for the 2025 UN General Assembly
Kavelashvili expressed Georgia’s solidarity with Ukraine during its war with Russia, calling back to Georgia’s war against Russia in 2008 and Tbilisi’s commitment to supporting those in the Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia and Ossetia. Kavelashvili also stated his support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace efforts in the South Caucasus and reiterated Georgia’s important strategic location on the Middle Corridor.
Sources: United Nations
Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev Speaks at the 2025 UN General Assembly’s General Debate
During his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for UN reforms and global efforts to build peace in an increasingly polarized world. He called for concrete UN Security Council reforms, creating a greater role for middle powers, like Kazakhstan, given their ability to bridge divides between large powers. Pointing to rising global conflict in places like Gaza and Ukraine, he called for international collaboration towards disarmament, mutual trust, diplomacy, and humanitarian support.
Source: Astana Times
Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov Speaks Before General Debate at the 2025 UN General Assembly
Berdimuhamedov spoke before delegates in New York to reiterate Turkmenistan's commitment to neutrality and building trust between UN member states. After Berdimuhamedov had declared 2025 an “International Year of Peace and Trust” earlier this year, he stated that his country will host a world summit to establish a universal code of trust and respect for states to follow. The Turkmen head of state added that the country remains committed to addressing climate change and supporting a digital transformation “free of politicization” within Turkmenistan.
Source: United Nations, eurasiamagazine
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov Speaks at the General Debate at the 2025 UN General Assembly
In his address to the UN General Assembly, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov spoke to the far-reaching consequences of international conflict on small states. He criticized European states’ sanctions on Kyrgyz banks in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian war, claiming countries like the U.K. impose these sanctions while deepening their own economic ties with Russia. Speaking out against the politicization of economic ties, the leader highlighted this policy’s serious economic repercussions in smaller countries. Accordingly, Zhaparov urged the UN Security Council to include smaller states to draw attention to the challenges they face and promote global peace. Kyrgyzstan has put forward its candidacy for a non-permanent Council membership for 2027-2028.
Source: The United Nations
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev Speaks at the General Debate at the 2025 UN General Assembly
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev called attention to Uzbekistan’s recent progress across various sectors. He highlighted Uzbekistan’s decreasing poverty rate, developing transport infrastructure, modernizing energy industry, and expanding access to education and healthcare. President Mirziyoyev also proposed several projects, like a forum on economic development in Central Asia, to deepen the already growing cooperation between Central Asian states.
Source: The United Nations, EuroNews
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon Speaks at the General Debate at the 2025 UN General Assembly
During the UN General Assembly Debate, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, acknowledged the setbacks Tajikistan is facing in sustainable development. President Rahmon gave the example of melting glaciers in Tajikistan, causing economic and water crises. In light of these challenges, he advocated for international financial and economic systems to meet the needs of developing countries. He later expressed support for the importance of the Summit of the Future and its important mission to build global peace and stability, especially in Palestine and Afghanistan. He urged the UN and international community to take effective steps towards creating lasting peace in Palestine.
Source: The United Nations
