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Institute Director: Azerbaijan-Türkiye military cooperation is rising to a strategic level

24 November 2025 12:53 (UTC +04:00)

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye in the military sphere is of special importance at a time when regional challenges are increasing. The partnership between the two countries has created an exemplary model not only in political and economic areas, but also in security and defense, said Asma Ozdaşlı, Director of the Ismail Gasprinsky Institute of Foreign Policy, at a forum held in Shusha, APA’s Karabakh bureau reports.

Asma Ozdaşlı noted that Azerbaijan–Türkiye cooperation serves as a model of stability in the region.

“Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations have gone beyond classical notions of international neighborliness and have formed principles of friendship and brotherhood. This idea is rooted in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s statement, ‘The joy of Azerbaijan is our joy, its sorrow is our sorrow,’ and in the national leader Heydar Aliyev’s motto, ‘One nation, two states.’ After the Second Karabakh War, President Ilham Aliyev’s remark, ‘One nation, two states, one army,’ demonstrated that military cooperation had entered a new strategic phase.

Against the backdrop of global tensions—such as conflicts in the Middle East, clashes in Sudan, and the war in Ukraine—the strengthening of Türkiye’s defense industry and the development of modern weapons systems have become important factors for the region. The effective use of Turkish UAVs in many conflict zones has further enhanced Türkiye’s global standing.

One of the main reasons behind Türkiye’s success in its defense industry is its policy of minimizing dependence on foreign sources for weapons and military equipment. The embargoes and restrictions imposed after the 1974 Cyprus operation became a turning point in strengthening Türkiye’s national defense sector.

Although some Western circles may view Azerbaijan–Türkiye relations differently, the strong partnership between the two countries is a positive example of stability in the region. Türkiye’s operations in Syria and Iraq are also seen as broad applications of this military and security model. The defense capabilities of both countries continue to grow, supported by historical ties, shared values, and strong political will.”