Deepening military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is a natural step in the context of strengthening trade and economic ties and active interaction along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor), Eldaniz Huseynov, a specialist in European and international studies, told Report, commenting on the countries’ readiness to sign a draft agreement on cooperation in military intelligence.
The expert emphasized that the Middle Corridor, which runs through the territories of several states and opens up new prospects for transit and trade, requires increased attention to security issues.
“As part of ensuring security, it is possible that the “Agreement on cooperation in military intelligence in the field of defense between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan” will be signed during the state visit of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Azerbaijan in March 2024,” he added.
According to Huseynov, this agreement will lay the foundation for deepening cooperation between the two countries in the military sphere, “defining obligations, conditions and procedures for cooperation in the field of military intelligence.”
He noted that the document also envisages joint combat training, which is an important step in ensuring the security of the Middle Corridor and related infrastructure.
“This cooperation becomes especially important in the context of strengthening transport, logistics and transit projects, including increasing the transit of Kazakh oil through the territory of Azerbaijan, which contributes not only to the economic, but also to the strategic rapprochement of the countries.
Kazakhstan and Türkiye previously signed a similar protocol, but this mostly concerns the possible exchange of data. However, the agreement with Azerbaijan demonstrates a wider range of cooperation and underscores the desire of both countries to pay attention to security issues,” the specialist explained.
“Strengthening military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is becoming a key component of the overall strategy for the development of bilateral relations, reflecting the mutual desire for stability, security and prosperity in the region,” concluded Huseynov.