The most important recent developments in Central Asia revolve around deepening economic and infrastructure ties with Azerbaijan, turning the former "C5" grouping into a "C6" that links the five Central Asian states with the South‑Caucasus. Azerbaijan’s trade with the region jumped over 50 % last year and its leaders say the partnership opens new opportunities for transport, energy and digital connectivity. At the 8th Consultative Meeting in Turkmenistan leaders pledged to push a stalled trans‑Caspian pipeline and to expand trade to $20 billion, up from about $13 billion. Kazakhstan is leading the connectivity push by completing a 390‑km Trans‑Caspian fibre‑optic link and launching an AI‑focused digital Silk Road, while the broader C6 agenda includes joint water‑resource management and a regional framework on critical minerals. These initiatives matter because they aim to turn Central Asia from a transit corridor into an integrated trading hub, diversify energy routes away from Russia, and attract high‑tech investment. Readers should watch: (1) the finalisation and financing of the trans‑Caspian pipeline; (2) the operational start of the fibre‑optic link and related AI ecosystem; and (3) how trade volumes and investment flows evolve as the C6 format moves from rhetoric to concrete projects. [[1, 2]]