Washington: "Honored to speak at the Trans-Caspian Forum 2026 on the future of the Middle Corridor and Caspian connectivity," Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev wrote on X, APA reports. According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Hajiyev emphasized that the Middle Corridor is evolving from a simple transit route into a strategic geo-economic system that links Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. This transformation reflects a structural shift in the architecture of Eurasian connectivity. Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's growing role as a key Eurasian connectivity hub, fueled by significant investments in rail, maritime, aviation, and digital infrastructure. He pointed out that Azerbaijan's geopolitical identities and dimensions across the South Caucasian, Central Asian, European, Middle Eastern, and Caspian regions complement and reinforce each other, positioning the country as a natural bridge acros s these areas. He further noted that the strength of a regional middle power today is measured not just by geography, population, economic size, or military capabilities, but also by the quality of its partnerships, its connectivity, and its ability to shape regional and international agendas. Hajiyev asserted that Azerbaijan increasingly embodies this model. Hajiyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to advancing secure, resilient, and future-oriented connectivity across Eurasia.