The Karabakh victory and Türkiye's gaining power in the region have caused concern among certain forces, while bringing Turkic states closer to each other, Hilmi Demir, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Institute of the Turkish Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV) shared his thoughts on this topic at the roundtable discussion themed "Threats and opportunities created by new geopolitical realities for Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations," APA reports.
He emphasized that with Azerbaijan's rightful victory in Karabakh, the issue of regional corridors has risen to a new strategic stage: "The Turkic world came into the spotlight precisely after this victory. It is not correct to evaluate Central Asia solely with the existing five countries. This is evident to everyone. Türkiye's policy on Central Asia reached a new phase precisely after the victory in Karabakh. Türkiye has become a significant actor in the defense industry sector."
He declared that his country has gained the status of being an inseparable part of the Caucasus region, the Caspian basin, and Central Asia: "I would also like to state that with the victory in Karabakh, the fact that our country has gained power in the region has caused concern among certain forces. At present, the Caspian is at the level of a new focal point of increasing importance in the region. However, the uncertain fate of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine makes the resolution of existing problems uncertain. It is evident that the only power that could sabotage Türkiye's presence as a force in the region is Iran. This country, including Russia, will not easily agree to losing its positions in the Caspian basin."
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