Ankara is positioning itself as a conduit for Turkmen dealings with the world. But Ashgabat has its own ideas on this front. This and more in this week’s Akhal-Teke Bulletin.
Whether the Armenian diamond-cutting industry is hurt or helped by the likely sanctions will depend on the EU's ability to trace the gems' origin to Russia.
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.
Analysts say that, while an Erdogan defeat would be a preferable outcome for Armenia, a change of power in Turkey would not necessarily be a game changer.
Exports of Azerbaijani oil via the Black Sea were restarted but only temporarily, while exports of Russian crude oil through Azerbaijan have finally been halted due to EU sanctions.