A swirl of recent activity in Central Asia and the Caspian Basin aimed at improving trade is belying the notion that August is vacation season. Late August this year was a time for state visits, with Azerbaijan’s leader, Ilham Aliyev traveling to Uzbekistan, and Kazakstan’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, visiting Tajikistan. The dominant theme of both trips was strengthening trade ties. Following discussions with Aliyev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proclaimed 2025 the “Year of Economic Cooperation” between the two countries. “We discussed in detail the whole range of our multifaceted…