The Caspian region has undergone historic shifts over the past year, including the expansion of intra-regional cooperation through Azerbaijan’s formal integration into the C5 to create the C6, a U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the establishment of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Alongside other energy and connectivity projects that are expanding the Middle Corridor and the Caspian countries’ increasing global engagements, these developments have accelerated progress toward regional stability, sovereignty, and connectivity. This virtual event will bring together regional and thematic experts to assess what to watch in 2026 across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, examining the region’s political, security, and economic trajectories and how Caspian countries can sustain, and build on, this momentum. The discussion will also look at the growing role that partners, particularly the EU and Türkiye, are playing in the Caspian region and where opportunities for further cooperation might lie. 

14:00 – 14:05

Opening Remarks

• David Moran, UK Adviser, Caspian Policy Centre

14:05 – 15:00

Moderated Discussion and Q&A

Moderated by James Sharp, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Centre

• Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Managing Director, European Neighbourhood Council (ENC)
• Benjamin Godwin, Partner, PRISM Strategic Intelligence
• Bruce Pannier, Advisory Board Member, Caspian Policy Centre