diff --git a/basedpyright-code-budget.json b/basedpyright-code-budget.json
index edfb3536ad3..c05f98d22ae 100644
--- a/basedpyright-code-budget.json
+++ b/basedpyright-code-budget.json
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
     "limit": 42
   },
   "reportExplicitAny": {
-    "limit": 10397
+    "limit": 10393
   },
   "reportFunctionMemberAccess": {
     "limit": 11
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/constants.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/constants.rs
index 109b648f5db..557fe5d53d4 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/constants.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/constants.rs
@@ -28,3 +28,15 @@ pub(crate) const DEFAULT_FLUSH_INTERVAL_MS: u64 = 500;
 /// Provider attributed to realtime sessions in the logging payload.
 #[cfg(feature = "server")]
 pub(crate) const DEFAULT_PROVIDER: &str = "openai";
+
+/// Full-request timeout ceiling for Anthropic Messages provider calls, in
+/// seconds. Mirrors the Python Anthropic Messages default. The per-request
+/// timeout from `litellm_params` still overrides this on the request builder.
+pub(crate) const MESSAGES_TIMEOUT_SECS: u64 = 600;
+
+/// Connect timeout for Anthropic Messages provider calls, in seconds.
+pub(crate) const MESSAGES_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS: u64 = 10;
+
+/// Max characters of an upstream error body echoed across the host boundary
+/// before truncation, so provider bodies are bounded and data-minimized.
+pub(crate) const MESSAGES_ERROR_BODY_MAX_CHARS: usize = 256;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/messages.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/messages.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b784d2b62a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/messages.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub use crate::messages::{messages, MessagesRequest};
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/mod.rs
index 3b566027646..7bc9642d192 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/mod.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/io/mod.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod messages;
 pub mod ocr;
 pub mod realtime;
 pub mod realtime_pool;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/lib.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/lib.rs
index d8ef7bb5ba1..db4c8211a5a 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/lib.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/lib.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 //!   for the load-time config reader.
 
 pub mod io;
+pub mod messages;
 pub mod ocr;
 
 /// GIL-activity tracking. Pure (atomics only); shared by the `server` routes and
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/client.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/client.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6281270b964
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/client.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+use std::sync::OnceLock;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use crate::constants::{MESSAGES_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS, MESSAGES_TIMEOUT_SECS};
+
+pub(super) fn http_client() -> &'static reqwest::Client {
+    static CLIENT: OnceLock<reqwest::Client> = OnceLock::new();
+    CLIENT.get_or_init(|| {
+        reqwest::Client::builder()
+            .timeout(Duration::from_secs(MESSAGES_TIMEOUT_SECS))
+            .connect_timeout(Duration::from_secs(MESSAGES_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECS))
+            .build()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| reqwest::Client::new())
+    })
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/common_utils.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/common_utils.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fe4ac4cf26f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/common_utils.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+use litellm_core::error::{json_type_name, CoreError};
+use litellm_core::messages::transformation::AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig;
+use litellm_core::providers::azure_ai::messages::transformation::AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG;
+use litellm_core::CoreResult;
+use serde_json::{Map, Value};
+
+use crate::constants::MESSAGES_ERROR_BODY_MAX_CHARS;
+
+pub(super) fn truncate_error_body(body: &str) -> String {
+    if body.chars().count() <= MESSAGES_ERROR_BODY_MAX_CHARS {
+        return body.to_string();
+    }
+    let truncated: String = body.chars().take(MESSAGES_ERROR_BODY_MAX_CHARS).collect();
+    format!("{truncated}... (truncated)")
+}
+
+pub(super) fn messages_provider_config(
+    provider: &str,
+) -> Option<&'static dyn AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig> {
+    match provider {
+        "azure_ai" => Some(&AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) fn string_headers(
+    extra_headers: Option<Map<String, Value>>,
+) -> CoreResult<Vec<(String, String)>> {
+    extra_headers
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|(key, value)| {
+            value
+                .as_str()
+                .map(|value| (key.clone(), value.to_string()))
+                .ok_or_else(|| {
+                    CoreError::InvalidRequest(format!(
+                        "messages extra_headers.{key} must be a string, got {}",
+                        json_type_name(&value)
+                    ))
+                })
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+pub(super) fn has_header(headers: &[(String, String)], name: &str) -> bool {
+    headers
+        .iter()
+        .any(|(key, _)| key.eq_ignore_ascii_case(name))
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/handler.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/handler.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ad58d74a87f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/handler.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+use litellm_core::error::CoreError;
+use litellm_core::CoreResult;
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+use super::client::http_client;
+use super::common_utils::truncate_error_body;
+use super::types::ProviderMessagesRequest;
+
+pub(super) async fn execute_messages_provider_call(
+    request: ProviderMessagesRequest,
+) -> CoreResult<Value> {
+    let mut request_builder = http_client().post(&request.url).json(&request.body);
+    for (key, value) in &request.upstream_headers {
+        request_builder = request_builder.header(key, value);
+    }
+    if let Some(duration) = request.timeout {
+        request_builder = request_builder.timeout(duration);
+    }
+
+    let response = request_builder
+        .send()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|err| CoreError::Network(err.to_string()))?;
+
+    let status = response.status();
+    let text = response
+        .text()
+        .await
+        .map_err(|err| CoreError::Network(err.to_string()))?;
+
+    if !status.is_success() {
+        return Err(CoreError::Http {
+            status: status.as_u16(),
+            body: truncate_error_body(&text),
+        });
+    }
+
+    let response_json: Value = serde_json::from_str(&text).map_err(|err| {
+        CoreError::InvalidResponse(format!("invalid messages response JSON: {err}"))
+    })?;
+
+    Ok(request
+        .config
+        .transform_response(&request.model, response_json)?
+        .into_json())
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7ed81474c47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+use litellm_core::CoreResult;
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+mod client;
+mod common_utils;
+mod handler;
+mod prepare;
+mod types;
+
+pub use types::MessagesRequest;
+
+use handler::execute_messages_provider_call;
+use prepare::prepare_messages_call;
+
+pub async fn messages(request: MessagesRequest<'_>) -> CoreResult<Value> {
+    let prepared = prepare_messages_call(request)?;
+    execute_messages_provider_call(prepared).await
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/prepare.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/prepare.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..72e32197267
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/prepare.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+use litellm_core::messages::transformation::MessagesAuthStrategy;
+use litellm_core::routing_utils::provider::{get_custom_llm_provider, CustomLlmProvider};
+use litellm_core::CoreError;
+use litellm_core::CoreResult;
+
+use super::common_utils::{has_header, messages_provider_config, string_headers};
+use super::types::{MessagesRequest, ProviderMessagesRequest};
+
+pub(super) fn prepare_messages_call(
+    request: MessagesRequest<'_>,
+) -> CoreResult<ProviderMessagesRequest> {
+    let provider_info = get_custom_llm_provider(request.model, request.custom_llm_provider)
+        .or_else(|| {
+            request
+                .custom_llm_provider
+                .map(|provider| CustomLlmProvider {
+                    model: request.model,
+                    custom_llm_provider: provider,
+                })
+        })
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            CoreError::InvalidProvider(
+                "unable to resolve custom_llm_provider for messages request".to_string(),
+            )
+        })?;
+    let model = provider_info.model.to_string();
+    let provider = provider_info.custom_llm_provider;
+
+    let config = messages_provider_config(provider)
+        .ok_or_else(|| CoreError::InvalidProvider(provider.to_string()))?;
+    let env_lookup = |key: &str| std::env::var(key).ok();
+
+    let mut headers = string_headers(request.extra_headers)?;
+
+    let auth_strategy = config.auth_strategy();
+    if !has_header(&headers, auth_strategy.header_name()) {
+        let api_key = config.resolve_api_key(request.api_key, &env_lookup)?;
+        let auth_header = match auth_strategy {
+            MessagesAuthStrategy::Bearer => {
+                ("authorization".to_string(), format!("Bearer {api_key}"))
+            }
+            MessagesAuthStrategy::Header(name) => (name.to_string(), api_key),
+        };
+        headers.push(auth_header);
+    }
+
+    for (name, value) in config.default_headers() {
+        if !has_header(&headers, name) {
+            headers.push((name.to_string(), value.to_string()));
+        }
+    }
+
+    let url = config.complete_url(request.api_base, &model, &env_lookup)?;
+    let body = config.transform_request(request.body)?.body;
+
+    Ok(ProviderMessagesRequest {
+        model,
+        config,
+        url,
+        body,
+        upstream_headers: headers,
+        timeout: request.timeout,
+    })
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/tests.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/tests.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30f6642400e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/tests.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use litellm_core::error::CoreError;
+use serde_json::{json, Map, Value};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+use tokio::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
+
+use super::common_utils::{
+    has_header, messages_provider_config, string_headers, truncate_error_body,
+};
+use super::{messages, MessagesRequest};
+
+async fn read_http_request(socket: &mut TcpStream) -> String {
+    let mut request = Vec::new();
+    let mut buffer = [0_u8; 1024];
+    let header_end = loop {
+        let n = socket.read(&mut buffer).await.expect("reads request");
+        if n == 0 {
+            break request.len();
+        }
+        request.extend_from_slice(&buffer[..n]);
+        if let Some(position) = request.windows(4).position(|window| window == b"\r\n\r\n") {
+            break position + 4;
+        }
+    };
+    let headers = String::from_utf8_lossy(&request[..header_end]);
+    let content_length = headers
+        .lines()
+        .find_map(|line| {
+            let (name, value) = line.split_once(':')?;
+            name.eq_ignore_ascii_case("content-length")
+                .then(|| value.trim().parse::<usize>().ok())
+                .flatten()
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(0);
+    while request.len().saturating_sub(header_end) < content_length {
+        let n = socket.read(&mut buffer).await.expect("reads body");
+        if n == 0 {
+            break;
+        }
+        request.extend_from_slice(&buffer[..n]);
+    }
+    String::from_utf8(request).expect("request is utf8")
+}
+
+fn write_response(body: &str) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\ncontent-type: application/json\r\ncontent-length: {}\r\nconnection: close\r\n\r\n{}",
+        body.len(),
+        body
+    )
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn provider_config_only_resolves_azure_ai() {
+    assert!(messages_provider_config("azure_ai").is_some());
+    assert!(messages_provider_config("anthropic").is_none());
+    assert!(messages_provider_config("openai").is_none());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn truncate_error_body_caps_long_payloads() {
+    let body = "x".repeat(400);
+    let truncated = truncate_error_body(&body);
+    assert!(truncated.ends_with("... (truncated)"));
+    let prefix_chars = truncated
+        .strip_suffix("... (truncated)")
+        .expect("truncated marker present")
+        .chars()
+        .count();
+    assert_eq!(prefix_chars, 256);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn string_headers_rejects_non_string_values() {
+    let headers = json!({"x-count": 3}).as_object().unwrap().clone();
+    let err = string_headers(Some(headers)).expect_err("non-string header rejected");
+    assert!(matches!(err, CoreError::InvalidRequest(_)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn has_header_is_case_insensitive() {
+    let headers = vec![("X-Api-Key".to_string(), "secret".to_string())];
+    assert!(has_header(&headers, "x-api-key"));
+    assert!(!has_header(&headers, "authorization"));
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn messages_round_trip_builds_azure_request_and_passes_response_through() {
+    let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.expect("binds");
+    let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("addr");
+
+    let server = tokio::spawn(async move {
+        let (mut socket, _) = listener.accept().await.expect("accepts request");
+        let request = read_http_request(&mut socket).await;
+        let response_body = r#"{"id":"msg_1","type":"message","role":"assistant","content":[{"type":"text","text":"hi"}],"model":"claude-sonnet-4-5","stop_reason":"end_turn","usage":{"input_tokens":1,"output_tokens":2}}"#;
+        socket
+            .write_all(write_response(response_body).as_bytes())
+            .await
+            .expect("writes response");
+        request
+    });
+
+    let response = messages(MessagesRequest {
+        model: "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        body: json!({
+            "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+            "max_tokens": 1024,
+            "messages": [{
+                "role": "user",
+                "content": [{
+                    "type": "text",
+                    "text": "hi",
+                    "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral", "scope": "global"}
+                }]
+            }]
+        }),
+        api_key: Some("sk-azure"),
+        api_base: Some(&format!("http://{addr}")),
+        custom_llm_provider: Some("azure_ai"),
+        extra_headers: None,
+        timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    })
+    .await
+    .expect("messages request succeeds");
+
+    assert_eq!(response["content"][0]["text"], "hi");
+    assert_eq!(response["stop_reason"], "end_turn");
+
+    let request = server.await.expect("server task completes");
+    let (head, body) = request.split_once("\r\n\r\n").expect("has body");
+    assert!(head.starts_with("POST /anthropic/v1/messages "), "{head}");
+    let head_lower = head.to_ascii_lowercase();
+    assert!(head_lower.contains("x-api-key: sk-azure"), "{head}");
+    assert!(
+        head_lower.contains("anthropic-version: 2023-06-01"),
+        "{head}"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        head_lower.contains("content-type: application/json"),
+        "{head}"
+    );
+
+    let sent_body: Value = serde_json::from_str(body).expect("body is json");
+    assert_eq!(
+        sent_body["messages"][0]["content"][0]["cache_control"],
+        json!({"type": "ephemeral"})
+    );
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn messages_does_not_duplicate_auth_when_x_api_key_supplied() {
+    let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.expect("binds");
+    let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("addr");
+
+    let server = tokio::spawn(async move {
+        let (mut socket, _) = listener.accept().await.expect("accepts request");
+        let request = read_http_request(&mut socket).await;
+        let response_body =
+            r#"{"id":"msg_2","type":"message","role":"assistant","content":[],"model":"m"}"#;
+        socket
+            .write_all(write_response(response_body).as_bytes())
+            .await
+            .expect("writes response");
+        request
+    });
+
+    let mut headers = Map::new();
+    headers.insert(
+        "x-api-key".to_string(),
+        Value::String("from-python".to_string()),
+    );
+    headers.insert(
+        "anthropic-beta".to_string(),
+        Value::String("token-efficient-tools-2025-02-19".to_string()),
+    );
+
+    messages(MessagesRequest {
+        model: "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        body: json!({"model": "claude-sonnet-4-5", "max_tokens": 8, "messages": []}),
+        api_key: Some("rust-fallback-key"),
+        api_base: Some(&format!("http://{addr}")),
+        custom_llm_provider: Some("azure_ai"),
+        extra_headers: Some(headers),
+        timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    })
+    .await
+    .expect("messages request succeeds");
+
+    let request = server.await.expect("server task completes");
+    let head = request
+        .split_once("\r\n\r\n")
+        .expect("has body")
+        .0
+        .to_ascii_lowercase();
+    let api_key_count = head
+        .lines()
+        .filter(|line| line.starts_with("x-api-key:"))
+        .count();
+    assert_eq!(api_key_count, 1, "{head}");
+    assert!(head.contains("x-api-key: from-python"), "{head}");
+    assert!(
+        head.contains("anthropic-beta: token-efficient-tools-2025-02-19"),
+        "{head}"
+    );
+    assert!(!head.contains("rust-fallback-key"), "{head}");
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn messages_maps_provider_error_status_to_http_error() {
+    let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.expect("binds");
+    let addr = listener.local_addr().expect("addr");
+
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        let (mut socket, _) = listener.accept().await.expect("accepts request");
+        let _ = read_http_request(&mut socket).await;
+        let body = "unauthorized";
+        let response = format!(
+            "HTTP/1.1 401 Unauthorized\r\ncontent-length: {}\r\nconnection: close\r\n\r\n{}",
+            body.len(),
+            body
+        );
+        socket
+            .write_all(response.as_bytes())
+            .await
+            .expect("writes response");
+    });
+
+    let err = messages(MessagesRequest {
+        model: "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        body: json!({"model": "claude-sonnet-4-5", "max_tokens": 8, "messages": []}),
+        api_key: Some("sk-azure"),
+        api_base: Some(&format!("http://{addr}")),
+        custom_llm_provider: Some("azure_ai"),
+        extra_headers: None,
+        timeout: Some(Duration::from_secs(5)),
+    })
+    .await
+    .expect_err("provider error propagates");
+
+    assert!(matches!(err, CoreError::Http { status: 401, .. }));
+}
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn messages_rejects_unsupported_provider() {
+    let err = messages(MessagesRequest {
+        model: "claude-3-5-sonnet",
+        body: json!({"model": "claude-3-5-sonnet", "max_tokens": 8, "messages": []}),
+        api_key: Some("sk"),
+        api_base: Some("http://127.0.0.1:1"),
+        custom_llm_provider: Some("anthropic"),
+        extra_headers: None,
+        timeout: Some(Duration::from_millis(50)),
+    })
+    .await
+    .expect_err("unsupported provider errors");
+
+    assert!(matches!(err, CoreError::InvalidProvider(provider) if provider == "anthropic"));
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/types.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/types.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6840ff57cc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/ai-gateway/src/messages/types.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use litellm_core::messages::transformation::AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig;
+use serde_json::{Map, Value};
+
+pub struct MessagesRequest<'a> {
+    pub model: &'a str,
+    pub body: Value,
+    pub api_key: Option<&'a str>,
+    pub api_base: Option<&'a str>,
+    pub custom_llm_provider: Option<&'a str>,
+    pub extra_headers: Option<Map<String, Value>>,
+    pub timeout: Option<Duration>,
+}
+
+pub(crate) struct ProviderMessagesRequest {
+    pub(crate) model: String,
+    pub(crate) config: &'static dyn AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig,
+    pub(crate) url: String,
+    pub(crate) body: Value,
+    pub(crate) upstream_headers: Vec<(String, String)>,
+    pub(crate) timeout: Option<Duration>,
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/lib.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/lib.rs
index 555a04ce853..27154f5a08b 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 pub mod call_lifecycle;
 pub mod error;
+pub mod messages;
 pub mod ocr;
 pub mod providers;
 pub mod realtime;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec2fbb969a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub mod transformation;
+pub mod types;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/transformation.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/transformation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..448f7dd6dc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/transformation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+use crate::error::{json_type_name, CoreError, CoreResult};
+
+use super::types::{MessagesRequestData, MessagesResponseData};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum MessagesAuthStrategy {
+    Bearer,
+    Header(&'static str),
+}
+
+impl MessagesAuthStrategy {
+    pub fn header_name(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Bearer => "authorization",
+            Self::Header(header_name) => header_name,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub trait AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig: Sync {
+    fn complete_url(
+        &self,
+        api_base: Option<&str>,
+        model: &str,
+        env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+    ) -> CoreResult<String>;
+
+    fn resolve_api_key(
+        &self,
+        api_key: Option<&str>,
+        env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+    ) -> CoreResult<String>;
+
+    fn auth_strategy(&self) -> MessagesAuthStrategy {
+        MessagesAuthStrategy::Header("x-api-key")
+    }
+
+    fn default_headers(&self) -> &'static [(&'static str, &'static str)] {
+        &[
+            ("anthropic-version", "2023-06-01"),
+            ("content-type", "application/json"),
+        ]
+    }
+
+    fn transform_request(&self, body: Value) -> CoreResult<MessagesRequestData> {
+        if !body.is_object() {
+            return Err(CoreError::InvalidType {
+                expected: "object",
+                actual: json_type_name(&body),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(MessagesRequestData { body })
+    }
+
+    fn transform_response(
+        &self,
+        _model: &str,
+        response_json: Value,
+    ) -> CoreResult<MessagesResponseData> {
+        if !response_json.is_object() {
+            return Err(CoreError::InvalidType {
+                expected: "object",
+                actual: json_type_name(&response_json),
+            });
+        }
+        Ok(MessagesResponseData {
+            body: response_json,
+        })
+    }
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/types.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/types.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e56e924e910
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/messages/types.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::Value;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct MessagesRequestData {
+    pub body: Value,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct MessagesResponseData {
+    pub body: Value,
+}
+
+impl MessagesResponseData {
+    pub fn into_json(self) -> Value {
+        self.body
+    }
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f239b6921fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+pub mod transformation;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/transformation.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/transformation.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4ac1e521d45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/messages/transformation.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,345 @@
+use serde_json::{Map, Value};
+
+use crate::error::{json_type_name, CoreError, CoreResult};
+use crate::messages::transformation::{AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig, MessagesAuthStrategy};
+use crate::messages::types::MessagesRequestData;
+
+const AZURE_API_KEY_ENV: &str = "AZURE_API_KEY";
+const AZURE_API_BASE_ENV: &str = "AZURE_API_BASE";
+
+pub struct AzureAnthropicMessagesConfig;
+
+pub const AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG: AzureAnthropicMessagesConfig =
+    AzureAnthropicMessagesConfig;
+
+fn non_empty(value: Option<&str>) -> Option<&str> {
+    value.map(str::trim).filter(|value| !value.is_empty())
+}
+
+pub fn resolve_azure_api_key(
+    api_key: Option<&str>,
+    env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+) -> CoreResult<String> {
+    non_empty(api_key)
+        .map(str::to_string)
+        .or_else(|| env_lookup(AZURE_API_KEY_ENV).filter(|value| !value.trim().is_empty()))
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            CoreError::Auth(
+                "Missing Azure API Key - Set `api_key` or the AZURE_API_KEY environment variable"
+                    .to_string(),
+            )
+        })
+}
+
+pub fn complete_azure_anthropic_url(
+    api_base: Option<&str>,
+    env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+) -> CoreResult<String> {
+    let api_base = non_empty(api_base)
+        .map(str::to_string)
+        .or_else(|| env_lookup(AZURE_API_BASE_ENV).filter(|value| !value.trim().is_empty()))
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            CoreError::Auth(
+                "Missing Azure API Base - Set `api_base` or the AZURE_API_BASE environment variable. \
+                 Expected format: https://<resource-name>.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic"
+                    .to_string(),
+            )
+        })?;
+
+    let api_base = api_base.trim_end_matches('/');
+
+    if api_base.ends_with("/v1/messages") || api_base.ends_with("/anthropic/v1/messages") {
+        return Ok(api_base.to_string());
+    }
+
+    let with_anthropic = match api_base.split_once("/anthropic") {
+        Some((prefix, _)) => format!("{prefix}/anthropic"),
+        None => format!("{api_base}/anthropic"),
+    };
+    Ok(format!("{with_anthropic}/v1/messages"))
+}
+
+fn remove_scope_from_content_blocks(content: &mut [Value]) {
+    for item in content.iter_mut() {
+        if let Some(cache_control) = item
+            .as_object_mut()
+            .and_then(|block| block.get_mut("cache_control"))
+            .and_then(Value::as_object_mut)
+        {
+            cache_control.remove("scope");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn remove_scope_from_cache_control(body: &mut Map<String, Value>) {
+    if let Some(Value::Array(system)) = body.get_mut("system") {
+        remove_scope_from_content_blocks(system);
+    }
+    if let Some(Value::Array(messages)) = body.get_mut("messages") {
+        for message in messages.iter_mut() {
+            if let Some(Value::Array(content)) = message
+                .as_object_mut()
+                .and_then(|message| message.get_mut("content"))
+            {
+                remove_scope_from_content_blocks(content);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl AnthropicMessagesProviderConfig for AzureAnthropicMessagesConfig {
+    fn complete_url(
+        &self,
+        api_base: Option<&str>,
+        _model: &str,
+        env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+    ) -> CoreResult<String> {
+        complete_azure_anthropic_url(api_base, env_lookup)
+    }
+
+    fn resolve_api_key(
+        &self,
+        api_key: Option<&str>,
+        env_lookup: &dyn Fn(&str) -> Option<String>,
+    ) -> CoreResult<String> {
+        resolve_azure_api_key(api_key, env_lookup)
+    }
+
+    fn auth_strategy(&self) -> MessagesAuthStrategy {
+        MessagesAuthStrategy::Header("x-api-key")
+    }
+
+    fn transform_request(&self, body: Value) -> CoreResult<MessagesRequestData> {
+        let mut body = match body {
+            Value::Object(body) => body,
+            other => {
+                return Err(CoreError::InvalidType {
+                    expected: "object",
+                    actual: json_type_name(&other),
+                })
+            }
+        };
+        remove_scope_from_cache_control(&mut body);
+        Ok(MessagesRequestData {
+            body: Value::Object(body),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn url_appends_anthropic_and_messages_suffix() {
+        let url =
+            complete_azure_anthropic_url(Some("https://resource.services.ai.azure.com"), &|_| None)
+                .expect("url builds");
+        assert_eq!(
+            url,
+            "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/v1/messages"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn url_keeps_existing_anthropic_segment() {
+        let url = complete_azure_anthropic_url(
+            Some("https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic"),
+            &|_| None,
+        )
+        .expect("url builds");
+        assert_eq!(
+            url,
+            "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/v1/messages"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn url_leaves_complete_messages_endpoint_untouched() {
+        for base in [
+            "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/v1/messages",
+            "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/v1/messages",
+        ] {
+            assert_eq!(
+                complete_azure_anthropic_url(Some(base), &|_| None).expect("url builds"),
+                base
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn url_trims_trailing_slash_and_truncates_after_anthropic() {
+        let url = complete_azure_anthropic_url(
+            Some("https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/extra/"),
+            &|_| None,
+        )
+        .expect("url builds");
+        assert_eq!(
+            url,
+            "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/v1/messages"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn url_falls_back_to_env_then_errors_when_absent() {
+        let with_env = |key: &str| {
+            (key == AZURE_API_BASE_ENV).then(|| "https://env.services.ai.azure.com".to_string())
+        };
+        assert_eq!(
+            complete_azure_anthropic_url(None, &with_env).expect("url builds"),
+            "https://env.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic/v1/messages"
+        );
+        let err = complete_azure_anthropic_url(Some("  "), &|_| None).expect_err("missing base");
+        assert!(matches!(err, CoreError::Auth(_)));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_api_key_prefers_param_then_env() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolve_azure_api_key(Some("sk-param"), &|_| None).unwrap(),
+            "sk-param"
+        );
+        let with_env = |key: &str| (key == AZURE_API_KEY_ENV).then(|| "sk-env".to_string());
+        assert_eq!(
+            resolve_azure_api_key(Some("  "), &with_env).unwrap(),
+            "sk-env"
+        );
+        assert!(matches!(
+            resolve_azure_api_key(None, &|_| None).expect_err("missing key"),
+            CoreError::Auth(_)
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn auth_strategy_is_x_api_key() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+                .auth_strategy()
+                .header_name(),
+            "x-api-key"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn default_headers_match_python() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG.default_headers(),
+            &[
+                ("anthropic-version", "2023-06-01"),
+                ("content-type", "application/json"),
+            ]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transform_request_strips_scope_from_system_and_messages() {
+        let body = json!({
+            "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+            "max_tokens": 1024,
+            "system": [
+                {
+                    "type": "text",
+                    "text": "sys",
+                    "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral", "ttl": "1h", "scope": "global"}
+                }
+            ],
+            "messages": [
+                {
+                    "role": "user",
+                    "content": [
+                        {
+                            "type": "text",
+                            "text": "hi",
+                            "cache_control": {"type": "ephemeral", "scope": "global"}
+                        },
+                        {"type": "text", "text": "no cache control"}
+                    ]
+                }
+            ]
+        });
+
+        let transformed = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_request(body)
+            .expect("request transforms")
+            .body;
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            transformed["system"][0]["cache_control"],
+            json!({"type": "ephemeral", "ttl": "1h"})
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            transformed["messages"][0]["content"][0]["cache_control"],
+            json!({"type": "ephemeral"})
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            transformed["messages"][0]["content"][1],
+            json!({"type": "text", "text": "no cache control"})
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transform_request_is_idempotent_and_preserves_string_system() {
+        let body = json!({
+            "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+            "system": "plain string system",
+            "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}]
+        });
+        let once = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_request(body)
+            .expect("request transforms")
+            .body;
+        let twice = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_request(once.clone())
+            .expect("request transforms")
+            .body;
+        assert_eq!(once, twice);
+        assert_eq!(once["system"], json!("plain string system"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transform_request_rejects_non_object_body() {
+        let err = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_request(json!("bad"))
+            .expect_err("non-object body should error");
+        assert_eq!(
+            err,
+            CoreError::InvalidType {
+                expected: "object",
+                actual: "string",
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transform_response_passes_through_object() {
+        let response = json!({
+            "id": "msg_1",
+            "type": "message",
+            "role": "assistant",
+            "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "hello"}],
+            "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+            "stop_reason": "end_turn",
+            "usage": {"input_tokens": 1, "output_tokens": 2}
+        });
+        let transformed = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_response("claude-sonnet-4-5", response.clone())
+            .expect("response transforms")
+            .into_json();
+        assert_eq!(transformed, response);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn transform_response_rejects_non_object() {
+        let err = AZURE_ANTHROPIC_MESSAGES_CONFIG
+            .transform_response("claude-sonnet-4-5", json!([1, 2, 3]))
+            .expect_err("array response should error");
+        assert_eq!(
+            err,
+            CoreError::InvalidType {
+                expected: "object",
+                actual: "array",
+            }
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/mod.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/mod.rs
index 3621ff6a2fd..5d13fa93e00 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/mod.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/core/src/providers/azure_ai/mod.rs
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
+pub mod messages;
 pub mod ocr;
diff --git a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/lib.rs b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/lib.rs
index 946a99f990c..80662b66d70 100644
--- a/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/lib.rs
+++ b/litellm-rust/crates/python-bridge/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use litellm_ai_gateway::io::messages::{messages as run_messages, MessagesRequest};
 use litellm_ai_gateway::io::ocr::{ocr as run_ocr, OcrRequest};
 use litellm_core::error::CoreError;
 use pyo3::exceptions::{PyRuntimeError, PyValueError};
@@ -171,6 +172,92 @@ fn aocr(
     })
 }
 
+type MarshaledMessagesInputs = (Value, Option<Map<String, Value>>, Option<Duration>);
+
+fn marshal_messages_inputs(
+    py: Python<'_>,
+    body: Py<PyAny>,
+    extra_headers: Option<Py<PyAny>>,
+    timeout_seconds: Option<f64>,
+) -> PyResult<MarshaledMessagesInputs> {
+    let body = py_to_json(py, body.bind(py))?;
+    if !body.is_object() {
+        return Err(PyValueError::new_err("body must be a dict"));
+    }
+    let extra_headers = match extra_headers {
+        Some(headers) => Some(optional_object_to_map(py, "extra_headers", Some(headers))?),
+        None => None,
+    };
+    Ok((body, extra_headers, optional_timeout(timeout_seconds)))
+}
+
+#[pyfunction]
+#[pyo3(signature = (model, body, api_key=None, api_base=None, custom_llm_provider=None, extra_headers=None, timeout_seconds=None))]
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn messages(
+    py: Python<'_>,
+    model: String,
+    body: Py<PyAny>,
+    api_key: Option<String>,
+    api_base: Option<String>,
+    custom_llm_provider: Option<String>,
+    extra_headers: Option<Py<PyAny>>,
+    timeout_seconds: Option<f64>,
+) -> PyResult<Py<PyAny>> {
+    let (body, extra_headers, timeout) =
+        marshal_messages_inputs(py, body, extra_headers, timeout_seconds)?;
+
+    let result = gil::release_gil(py, || {
+        pyo3_async_runtimes::tokio::get_runtime().block_on(run_messages(MessagesRequest {
+            model: &model,
+            body,
+            api_key: api_key.as_deref(),
+            api_base: api_base.as_deref(),
+            custom_llm_provider: custom_llm_provider.as_deref(),
+            extra_headers,
+            timeout,
+        }))
+    });
+
+    match result {
+        Ok(value) => json_to_py(py, value),
+        Err(err) => Err(core_error_to_pyerr(err)),
+    }
+}
+
+#[pyfunction]
+#[pyo3(signature = (model, body, api_key=None, api_base=None, custom_llm_provider=None, extra_headers=None, timeout_seconds=None))]
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+fn amessages(
+    py: Python<'_>,
+    model: String,
+    body: Py<PyAny>,
+    api_key: Option<String>,
+    api_base: Option<String>,
+    custom_llm_provider: Option<String>,
+    extra_headers: Option<Py<PyAny>>,
+    timeout_seconds: Option<f64>,
+) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+    let (body, extra_headers, timeout) =
+        marshal_messages_inputs(py, body, extra_headers, timeout_seconds)?;
+
+    pyo3_async_runtimes::tokio::future_into_py(py, async move {
+        let value = run_messages(MessagesRequest {
+            model: &model,
+            body,
+            api_key: api_key.as_deref(),
+            api_base: api_base.as_deref(),
+            custom_llm_provider: custom_llm_provider.as_deref(),
+            extra_headers,
+            timeout,
+        })
+        .await
+        .map_err(core_error_to_pyerr)?;
+
+        Python::with_gil(|py| json_to_py(py, value))
+    })
+}
+
 #[pyfunction]
 fn gil_stats(py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<Py<PyAny>> {
     let stats = PyDict::new(py);
@@ -182,6 +269,8 @@ fn gil_stats(py: Python<'_>) -> PyResult<Py<PyAny>> {
 fn _native(module: &Bound<'_, PyModule>) -> PyResult<()> {
     module.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(ocr, module)?)?;
     module.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(aocr, module)?)?;
+    module.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(messages, module)?)?;
+    module.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(amessages, module)?)?;
     module.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(gil_stats, module)?)?;
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py b/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
index b47fc50e196..e58641a5d8d 100644
--- a/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
+++ b/litellm/llms/custom_httpx/llm_http_handler.py
@@ -2091,6 +2091,34 @@ class BaseLLMHTTPHandler:
             },
         )
 
+        rust_messages_response = await self._maybe_rust_anthropic_messages(
+            custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+            litellm_params=litellm_params,
+            stream=stream or False,
+            model=model,
+            api_key=api_key,
+            api_base=api_base,
+            headers=headers,
+            request_body=request_body,
+            timeout=self._resolve_anthropic_messages_timeout(
+                litellm_params=litellm_params,
+                stream=stream or False,
+                custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+            ),
+        )
+        if rust_messages_response is not None:
+            return await self._finalize_anthropic_messages_response(
+                initial_response=rust_messages_response,
+                model=model,
+                messages=messages,
+                anthropic_messages_provider_config=anthropic_messages_provider_config,
+                anthropic_messages_optional_request_params=anthropic_messages_optional_request_params,
+                logging_obj=logging_obj,
+                custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+                api_key=api_key,
+                kwargs=kwargs,
+            )
+
         response = await self._async_post_anthropic_messages_with_http_error_retry(
             async_httpx_client=async_httpx_client,
             request_url=request_url,
@@ -2165,6 +2193,31 @@ class BaseLLMHTTPHandler:
                 logging_obj=logging_obj,
             )
 
+        return await self._finalize_anthropic_messages_response(
+            initial_response=initial_response,
+            model=model,
+            messages=messages,
+            anthropic_messages_provider_config=anthropic_messages_provider_config,
+            anthropic_messages_optional_request_params=anthropic_messages_optional_request_params,
+            logging_obj=logging_obj,
+            custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+            api_key=api_key,
+            kwargs=kwargs,
+        )
+
+    async def _finalize_anthropic_messages_response(
+        self,
+        *,
+        initial_response: AnthropicMessagesResponse,
+        model: str,
+        messages: list[dict],
+        anthropic_messages_provider_config: BaseAnthropicMessagesConfig,
+        anthropic_messages_optional_request_params: dict,
+        logging_obj: LiteLLMLoggingObj,
+        custom_llm_provider: str,
+        api_key: str | None,
+        kwargs: dict,
+    ) -> AnthropicMessagesResponse | AsyncIterator:
         # Inject api_key into kwargs so follow-up calls in agentic hooks can
         # authenticate. api_key is a named param here (not in kwargs), so
         # _prepare_followup_kwargs would miss it otherwise.
@@ -2188,6 +2241,40 @@ class BaseLLMHTTPHandler:
             "anthropic_messages",
         )
 
+    @staticmethod
+    async def _maybe_rust_anthropic_messages(
+        *,
+        custom_llm_provider: str,
+        litellm_params: GenericLiteLLMParams,
+        stream: bool,
+        model: str,
+        api_key: str | None,
+        api_base: str | None,
+        headers: dict,
+        request_body: dict,
+        timeout: float | httpx.Timeout | None,
+    ) -> AnthropicMessagesResponse | None:
+        if stream or custom_llm_provider != "azure_ai" or litellm_params.get("rust") is not True:
+            return None
+
+        from litellm.rust_bridge import messages as rust_messages_bridge
+
+        rust_response = await rust_messages_bridge.amessages(
+            model=model,
+            body=request_body,
+            api_key=api_key,
+            api_base=api_base,
+            custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+            extra_headers=headers,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
+        if rust_response is None:
+            return None
+
+        response_obj = cast(AnthropicMessagesResponse, dict(rust_response))
+        response_obj["_hidden_params"] = {"additional_headers": {"x-litellm-rust": "true"}}
+        return response_obj
+
     def anthropic_messages_handler(
         self,
         model: str,
diff --git a/litellm/rust_bridge/messages.py b/litellm/rust_bridge/messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d51689f5f3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm/rust_bridge/messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+"""Thin Python wrapper for the native Rust Anthropic Messages bridge."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Awaitable, Final, Protocol, Union, cast
+
+import httpx
+
+from litellm.rust_bridge.timeouts import timeout_to_seconds
+
+
+class RustMessages(Protocol):
+    def __call__(
+        self,
+        model: str,
+        body: dict[str, object],
+        api_key: str | None,
+        api_base: str | None,
+        custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+        extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+        timeout_seconds: float | None,
+    ) -> dict[str, object]:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+
+class RustAmessages(Protocol):
+    def __call__(
+        self,
+        model: str,
+        body: dict[str, object],
+        api_key: str | None,
+        api_base: str | None,
+        custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+        extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+        timeout_seconds: float | None,
+    ) -> Awaitable[dict[str, object]]:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+
+class _Unset:
+    pass
+
+
+_UNSET: Final[_Unset] = _Unset()
+
+
+def _env_enables_rust_messages() -> bool:
+    return os.getenv("LITELLM_USE_RUST_MESSAGES", "").strip().lower() in {
+        "1",
+        "true",
+        "yes",
+        "on",
+    }
+
+
+@dataclass(slots=True)
+class _RustMessagesState:
+    enabled: bool
+    messages: RustMessages | None = None
+    amessages: RustAmessages | None = None
+
+
+_STATE: Final[_RustMessagesState] = _RustMessagesState(enabled=_env_enables_rust_messages())
+
+
+def set_rust_messages(
+    enabled: bool | _Unset = _UNSET,
+    *,
+    messages: RustMessages | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
+    amessages: RustAmessages | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
+) -> None:
+    if not isinstance(enabled, _Unset):
+        _STATE.enabled = enabled
+    if not isinstance(messages, _Unset):
+        _STATE.messages = messages
+    if not isinstance(amessages, _Unset):
+        _STATE.amessages = amessages
+
+
+def rust_messages_enabled() -> bool:
+    return _STATE.enabled
+
+
+def load_rust_messages() -> RustMessages | None:
+    if _STATE.messages is not None:
+        return _STATE.messages
+    from litellm.rust_bridge import get_native_bridge
+
+    native_bridge = get_native_bridge()
+    if native_bridge is None:
+        return None
+    return cast(RustMessages, getattr(native_bridge, "messages", None))
+
+
+def load_rust_amessages() -> RustAmessages | None:
+    if _STATE.amessages is not None:
+        return _STATE.amessages
+    from litellm.rust_bridge import get_native_bridge
+
+    native_bridge = get_native_bridge()
+    if native_bridge is None:
+        return None
+    return cast(RustAmessages, getattr(native_bridge, "amessages", None))
+
+
+def messages(
+    *,
+    model: str,
+    body: dict[str, object],
+    api_key: str | None,
+    api_base: str | None,
+    custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+    extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+    timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None,
+) -> dict[str, object] | None:
+    rust_messages = load_rust_messages()
+    if rust_messages is None:
+        return None
+    return rust_messages(
+        model=model,
+        body=body,
+        api_key=api_key,
+        api_base=api_base,
+        custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+        extra_headers=extra_headers,
+        timeout_seconds=timeout_to_seconds(timeout),
+    )
+
+
+async def amessages(
+    *,
+    model: str,
+    body: dict[str, object],
+    api_key: str | None,
+    api_base: str | None,
+    custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+    extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+    timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None,
+) -> dict[str, object] | None:
+    rust_amessages = load_rust_amessages()
+    if rust_amessages is None:
+        return None
+    return await rust_amessages(
+        model=model,
+        body=body,
+        api_key=api_key,
+        api_base=api_base,
+        custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+        extra_headers=extra_headers,
+        timeout_seconds=timeout_to_seconds(timeout),
+    )
diff --git a/litellm/rust_bridge/ocr.py b/litellm/rust_bridge/ocr.py
index 36a088b6b1a..3654b9fb232 100644
--- a/litellm/rust_bridge/ocr.py
+++ b/litellm/rust_bridge/ocr.py
@@ -3,10 +3,15 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
-from typing import Any, Awaitable, Final, Protocol, Union, cast
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Awaitable, Final, Protocol, Union, cast
 
 import httpx
 
+from litellm.rust_bridge.timeouts import timeout_to_seconds as _timeout_to_seconds
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from litellm.rust_bridge.messages import RustAmessages, RustMessages
+
 
 class RustOcr(Protocol):
     def __call__(
@@ -64,6 +69,8 @@ def use_litellm_rust(
     *,
     ocr: RustOcr | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
     aocr: RustAocr | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
+    messages: RustMessages | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
+    amessages: RustAmessages | None | _Unset = _UNSET,
 ) -> None:
     global _rust_ocr_enabled, _rust_ocr_impl, _rust_aocr_impl
     _rust_ocr_enabled = enabled
@@ -71,6 +78,16 @@ def use_litellm_rust(
         _rust_ocr_impl = ocr
     if not isinstance(aocr, _Unset):
         _rust_aocr_impl = aocr
+    if isinstance(messages, _Unset) and isinstance(amessages, _Unset):
+        return
+    from litellm.rust_bridge.messages import set_rust_messages
+
+    if not isinstance(messages, _Unset) and not isinstance(amessages, _Unset):
+        set_rust_messages(enabled, messages=messages, amessages=amessages)
+    elif not isinstance(messages, _Unset):
+        set_rust_messages(enabled, messages=messages)
+    else:
+        set_rust_messages(enabled, amessages=amessages)
 
 
 def rust_ocr_enabled() -> bool:
@@ -99,22 +116,14 @@ def load_rust_aocr() -> RustAocr | None:
     return cast(RustAocr, getattr(native_bridge, "aocr", None))
 
 
-def _timeout_to_seconds(timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None) -> float | None:
-    if timeout is None:
-        return None
-    if isinstance(timeout, httpx.Timeout):
-        return timeout.read
-    return float(timeout)
-
-
 def ocr(
     *,
     model: str,
-    document: dict[str, Any],
+    document: dict[str, object],
     api_key: str | None,
     api_base: str | None,
     custom_llm_provider: str | None,
-    extra_headers: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
     optional_params: dict[str, object],
     timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None,
 ) -> dict[str, object] | None:
@@ -123,11 +132,11 @@ def ocr(
         return None
     return rust_ocr(
         model=model,
-        document=cast(dict[str, object], document),
+        document=document,
         api_key=api_key,
         api_base=api_base,
         custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
-        extra_headers=cast(dict[str, object] | None, extra_headers),
+        extra_headers=extra_headers,
         optional_params=optional_params,
         timeout_seconds=_timeout_to_seconds(timeout),
     )
@@ -136,11 +145,11 @@ def ocr(
 async def aocr(
     *,
     model: str,
-    document: dict[str, Any],
+    document: dict[str, object],
     api_key: str | None,
     api_base: str | None,
     custom_llm_provider: str | None,
-    extra_headers: dict[str, Any] | None,
+    extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
     optional_params: dict[str, object],
     timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None,
 ) -> dict[str, object] | None:
@@ -149,11 +158,11 @@ async def aocr(
         return None
     return await rust_aocr(
         model=model,
-        document=cast(dict[str, object], document),
+        document=document,
         api_key=api_key,
         api_base=api_base,
         custom_llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
-        extra_headers=cast(dict[str, object] | None, extra_headers),
+        extra_headers=extra_headers,
         optional_params=optional_params,
         timeout_seconds=_timeout_to_seconds(timeout),
     )
diff --git a/litellm/rust_bridge/timeouts.py b/litellm/rust_bridge/timeouts.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4407986c3da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm/rust_bridge/timeouts.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+"""Shared timeout conversion for the native Rust bridges."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Union
+
+import httpx
+
+
+def timeout_to_seconds(timeout: Union[float, httpx.Timeout] | None) -> float | None:
+    if timeout is None:
+        return None
+    if isinstance(timeout, httpx.Timeout):
+        return timeout.read
+    return float(timeout)
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/__init__.py b/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_messages.py b/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_messages.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6f0e1e190a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/rust_bridge/test_messages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,274 @@
+"""Tests for the optional Rust-backed Anthropic Messages path."""
+
+import importlib
+
+import httpx
+import pytest
+
+import litellm
+from litellm.llms.custom_httpx.llm_http_handler import BaseLLMHTTPHandler
+from litellm.types.router import GenericLiteLLMParams
+
+rust_messages = importlib.import_module("litellm.rust_bridge.messages")
+rust_bridge_loader = importlib.import_module("litellm.rust_bridge.loader")
+
+FAKE_MESSAGES_RESPONSE: dict[str, object] = {
+    "id": "msg_123",
+    "type": "message",
+    "role": "assistant",
+    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929",
+    "content": [{"type": "text", "text": "hello world"}],
+    "stop_reason": "end_turn",
+    "usage": {"input_tokens": 5, "output_tokens": 3},
+}
+
+REQUEST_BODY: dict[str, object] = {
+    "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+    "max_tokens": 64,
+    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "hi"}],
+}
+
+
+class RecordingMessages:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.calls: list[dict[str, object]] = []
+
+    def __call__(
+        self,
+        model: str,
+        body: dict[str, object],
+        api_key: str | None,
+        api_base: str | None,
+        custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+        extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+        timeout_seconds: float | None,
+    ) -> dict[str, object]:
+        self.calls.append(
+            {
+                "model": model,
+                "body": body,
+                "api_key": api_key,
+                "api_base": api_base,
+                "custom_llm_provider": custom_llm_provider,
+                "extra_headers": extra_headers,
+                "timeout_seconds": timeout_seconds,
+            }
+        )
+        return dict(FAKE_MESSAGES_RESPONSE)
+
+
+class RecordingAsyncMessages:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.calls: list[dict[str, object]] = []
+
+    async def __call__(
+        self,
+        model: str,
+        body: dict[str, object],
+        api_key: str | None,
+        api_base: str | None,
+        custom_llm_provider: str | None,
+        extra_headers: dict[str, object] | None,
+        timeout_seconds: float | None,
+    ) -> dict[str, object]:
+        self.calls.append(
+            {
+                "model": model,
+                "body": body,
+                "api_key": api_key,
+                "api_base": api_base,
+                "custom_llm_provider": custom_llm_provider,
+                "extra_headers": extra_headers,
+                "timeout_seconds": timeout_seconds,
+            }
+        )
+        return dict(FAKE_MESSAGES_RESPONSE)
+
+
+class ExplodingAsyncMessages:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.calls = 0
+
+    async def __call__(self, **kwargs: object) -> dict[str, object]:
+        self.calls += 1
+        raise AssertionError("bridge must not be called")
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _reset_rust_flag():
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(False, messages=None, amessages=None)
+    rust_bridge_loader._cached_bridge = rust_bridge_loader._BRIDGE_SENTINEL
+    yield
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(False, messages=None, amessages=None)
+    rust_bridge_loader._cached_bridge = rust_bridge_loader._BRIDGE_SENTINEL
+
+
+def test_load_rust_messages_returns_injected_impl():
+    bridge = RecordingMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, messages=bridge)
+    assert rust_messages.load_rust_messages() is bridge
+
+
+def test_load_rust_amessages_returns_injected_impl():
+    bridge = RecordingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+    assert rust_messages.load_rust_amessages() is bridge
+
+
+def test_messages_wrapper_returns_none_when_bridge_absent(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        importlib.import_module("litellm.rust_bridge"),
+        "get_native_bridge",
+        lambda: None,
+    )
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True)
+    assert rust_messages.load_rust_messages() is None
+    result = rust_messages.messages(
+        model="claude",
+        body=REQUEST_BODY,
+        api_key="k",
+        api_base="b",
+        custom_llm_provider="azure_ai",
+        extra_headers={},
+        timeout=30.0,
+    )
+    assert result is None
+
+
+def test_messages_wrapper_forwards_args_and_converts_timeout():
+    bridge = RecordingMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, messages=bridge)
+
+    response = rust_messages.messages(
+        model="claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        body=REQUEST_BODY,
+        api_key="sk-azure",
+        api_base="https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic",
+        custom_llm_provider="azure_ai",
+        extra_headers={"anthropic-beta": "token-efficient-tools-2025-02-19"},
+        timeout=httpx.Timeout(600.0, read=42.0),
+    )
+
+    assert response == FAKE_MESSAGES_RESPONSE
+    assert bridge.calls[0] == {
+        "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        "body": REQUEST_BODY,
+        "api_key": "sk-azure",
+        "api_base": "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic",
+        "custom_llm_provider": "azure_ai",
+        "extra_headers": {"anthropic-beta": "token-efficient-tools-2025-02-19"},
+        "timeout_seconds": 42.0,
+    }
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_amessages_wrapper_forwards_args():
+    bridge = RecordingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await rust_messages.amessages(
+        model="claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        body=REQUEST_BODY,
+        api_key="sk-azure",
+        api_base="https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic",
+        custom_llm_provider="azure_ai",
+        extra_headers=None,
+        timeout=12.5,
+    )
+
+    assert response == FAKE_MESSAGES_RESPONSE
+    assert bridge.calls[0]["model"] == "claude-sonnet-4-5"
+    assert bridge.calls[0]["timeout_seconds"] == 12.5
+
+
+def _gate(**overrides):
+    kwargs = {
+        "custom_llm_provider": "azure_ai",
+        "litellm_params": GenericLiteLLMParams(api_key="sk-azure", rust=True),
+        "stream": False,
+        "model": "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+        "api_key": "sk-azure",
+        "api_base": "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic",
+        "headers": {"x-api-key": "sk-azure", "anthropic-version": "2023-06-01"},
+        "request_body": dict(REQUEST_BODY),
+        "timeout": 30.0,
+    }
+    kwargs.update(overrides)
+    return BaseLLMHTTPHandler._maybe_rust_anthropic_messages(**kwargs)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_invokes_rust_and_marks_response_header():
+    bridge = RecordingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await _gate()
+
+    assert response is not None
+    assert response["id"] == "msg_123"
+    assert response["_hidden_params"]["additional_headers"] == {"x-litellm-rust": "true"}
+    call = bridge.calls[0]
+    assert call["model"] == "claude-sonnet-4-5"
+    assert call["body"] == REQUEST_BODY
+    assert call["api_key"] == "sk-azure"
+    assert call["api_base"] == "https://resource.services.ai.azure.com/anthropic"
+    assert call["extra_headers"] == {"x-api-key": "sk-azure", "anthropic-version": "2023-06-01"}
+    assert call["timeout_seconds"] == 30.0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_skips_rust_when_flag_absent():
+    bridge = ExplodingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await _gate(litellm_params=GenericLiteLLMParams(api_key="sk-azure"))
+
+    assert response is None
+    assert bridge.calls == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_skips_rust_when_flag_false():
+    bridge = ExplodingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await _gate(litellm_params=GenericLiteLLMParams(api_key="sk-azure", rust=False))
+
+    assert response is None
+    assert bridge.calls == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_skips_rust_for_non_azure_provider():
+    bridge = ExplodingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await _gate(custom_llm_provider="anthropic")
+
+    assert response is None
+    assert bridge.calls == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_skips_rust_when_streaming():
+    bridge = ExplodingAsyncMessages()
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True, amessages=bridge)
+
+    response = await _gate(stream=True)
+
+    assert response is None
+    assert bridge.calls == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_gate_falls_back_when_bridge_unavailable(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        importlib.import_module("litellm.rust_bridge"),
+        "get_native_bridge",
+        lambda: None,
+    )
+    litellm.use_litellm_rust(True)
+
+    response = await _gate()
+
+    assert response is None
diff --git a/type-discipline-budget.json b/type-discipline-budget.json
index 87b4c96e323..8fe7c588cf1 100644
--- a/type-discipline-budget.json
+++ b/type-discipline-budget.json
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     "limit": 0
   },
   "LIT006": {
-    "limit": 1113
+    "limit": 1112
   },
   "LIT007": {
     "limit": 0