Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, will receive a $1.5 billion loan from Russia's Lukoil as part of a deal to supply crude oil to SOCAR's oil refinery in Turkey.
Expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor pipelines carrying Azerbaijani gas to Europe is on hold pending confirmation that Europe will buy the gas. Baku's offensive to retake Nagorno-Karabakh could further complicate things.
Russian diplomacy and Turkmenistan's evolving foreign relations amidst president Berdymukhamedov’s growing influence. And more in this week's Akhal-Teke Bulletin.