FIRM TIES OF BROTHERHOOD

In line with tradition, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev embarked on his inaugural official visit to fraternal and allied Türkiye following his election. The outcomes of the visit served as another testament to the deepening strategic alliance factor between Baku and Ankara on regional and Eurasian fronts.

Unity re-affirmed

During President Aliyev's visit to Türkiye, three pivotal agreements were inked: the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Türkiye for establishing the Turkish-Azerbaijani University, the Cooperation Agreement between the Governments of Azerbaijan and Türkiye in the field of veterinary medicine, and the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Azerbaijan and Türkiye concerning taxes on income.

Evidently, the visit aimed to showcase the deepened fraternal, amicable, and allied ties between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, a goal that was resoundingly achieved, particularly with the significant declarations made by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the visit.

Two Armies, One Fist

Military collaboration stands as a cornerstone of the Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic partnership. A significant moment was President Aliyev's visit to Azerbaijani Air Force military installations shortly after assuming office, where he witnessed demonstrations of the Turkish Bayraktar Akıncı attack drones recently integrated into the Azerbaijani Army.

During a comprehensive meeting with President Erdoğan in Ankara, President Aliyev expressed optimism regarding the potential establishment of Baykar Holding's training, testing, and maintenance center in Azerbaijan by 2024 or 2025.

"Every year, no less than 10 joint military exercises take place in both Türkiye and Azerbaijan, further bolstering our military capabilities. The Second Garabagh War and our subsequent anti-terror operation five months ago underscored that the Turkish military model has seamlessly integrated into Azerbaijan," highlighted President Aliyev during a joint press briefing with President Erdogan.

As emphasised by the Azerbaijani President, "our armed forces have united as one."

Expansive Cooperation

Baku and Ankara are intensifying their collaboration in the economic realm as well. The visit underscored their shared commitment to elevating trade volume between Azerbaijan and Türkiye to an unprecedented $7.5 billion. Erdogan affirmed their resolve to redouble efforts to reach the $15 billion target.

A roadmap aimed at boosting mutual trade volume will be unveiled at the 11th session of the Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation, set for May this year in Ankara. This signifies both nations' intent to accelerate progress and capacity in energy and transportation projects they are jointly implementing, including the enhancement of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway integrated within the Middle Corridor. Plans also encompass assessing the Kars-Julfa railway, which will link with the future Zangezur corridor, forming part of the South Caucasus, East-West, and North-South transport networks. Moreover, the agreement on double taxation avoidance concerning income taxes signed during President Aliyev's Ankara visit will further fortify economic cooperation and reciprocal investments between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

A notable highlight of the visit was the launch of the Turkish-Azerbaijani University project. President Erdogan hailed the memorandum as a significant milestone in higher education collaboration, stating that the University would elevate scientific and technological relations to unprecedented heights. He emphasised that exchanging expertise, particularly in engineering and healthcare, would foster expansive growth. President Aliyev echoed this sentiment, expressing certainty that the university would emerge as a leading institution not only in Azerbaijan but across the region in the near future.

Our Family: The Turkic World

The Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance extends beyond borders, encompassing a pan-Turkic dimension that was reaffirmed during President Aliyev's official visit to Ankara. In his inaugural address, President Aliyev underscored the country's commitment to the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) as a top foreign policy priority, referring to it as their family. He emphasized, "Our family is the Turkic world."

During discussions with Erdogan, President Aliyev stressed the growing strength within the OTS and highlighted how unification of Turkic peoples with shared roots would fortify each member state. The upcoming informal summit in Shusha scheduled for July is poised to be a significant event for the OTS, showcasing its amplified presence on the global stage. Notably, President Aliyev extended an invitation to Ersin Tatar, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an observer in the OTS, acknowledging that this collaboration would invigorate their shared cause for Turkic unity.

The Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance stands as a pivotal force uniting the Turkic world. The close ties between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, which were solidified with the signing of the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations in June 2021, continue to evolve with new dimensions. During President Aliyev's visit to Ankara, President Erdogan once again lauded Azerbaijan's support in mitigating the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Türkiye, acknowledging Azerbaijan's construction of 1,000 homes on 32 hectares in earthquake-affected Kahramanmarash.

The strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Türkiye is set to strengthen further, significantly shaping not only the geopolitics of the South Caucasus but also the broader Turkic world.

A Historic Opportunity for Long-Term Peace in the Region

The significance of President Aliyev's visit to Türkiye resonates deeply in the geopolitical landscape, directly influencing the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement process crucial for South Caucasus security.

During a joint press briefing with Erdogan, President Aliyev reflected on Türkiye's steadfast support during the Second Garabagh War in 2020, highlighting how Türkiye's unwavering solidarity played a pivotal role in Azerbaijan's swift resolution of a long-standing conflict within 44 days. This unwavering political and moral backing underscored a historic moment of triumph for Azerbaijan and solidified fraternal bonds that will long be remembered.

Ankara's steadfast political backing for Baku is evident in the irrevocable connection between the normalization of relations between Türkiye and Armenia and the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. This link remains unaltered; the latter intricately tied to the former. Consequently, until a peace treaty is reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there will be no normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, including the issue of border opening. Even periodic announcements from official Yerevan regarding the readiness of the Armenian checkpoint on the Turkish border hold no sway.

A telling statement by Turkish President Erdogan during his meeting with Ilham Aliyev encapsulates this sentiment: "The signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia will undoubtedly usher in a new era of hope for peace and stability in our region." Highlighting the urgency of seizing the "historic window for long-term peace in the region," Erdogan reiterated Türkiye's unwavering support for Azerbaijan. At the same time, he urged Armenia to approach the peace process with Azerbaijan from a broader strategic perspective.

The messages conveyed by Baku and Ankara to external entities carry significant geopolitical weight. President Aliyev has consistently emphasized the resolution of the Garabagh conflict, asserting that external mediation in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations is unnecessary. Moreover, he strongly opposes involvement from countries taking a biased, pro-Armenian stance, believing such interference undermines the settlement process.

President Erdogan echoed this sentiment during his discussions with the Azerbaijani President: "Third parties should make constructive contributions instead of disrupting the process." It is worth noting Ankara's previous calls for Armenia to refrain from seeking military support from distant Western powers and focus on enhancing relationships with neighbouring states like Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

The unity in Azerbaijan's and Türkiye's approaches to core interests is once again exemplified through the unwavering bond reaffirmed during Ilham Aliyev's visit to Ankara, linking the Turkish-Armenian settlement with the Azerbaijani-Armenian resolution. These two nations share steadfast ties founded on fraternity and strategic alliance.