Turkey's Support For Azerbaijan: Exploring The Complex Dynamics

Turkey and Azerbaijan have historically shared strong relations, with both countries being the only two predominantly Turkic countries located west of the Caspian Sea. Turkey has supported Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, with Turkey's defence minister, Hulusi Akar, reiterating this support at a United Nations news conference in September 2022. In 2020, Turkey pledged full support to Azerbaijan in response to Armenia's military offensive against civilian targets on Azerbaijani territories. This support has taken the form of joint military exercises and drills, arms supplies, and political support. However, Azerbaijan has denied claims that Turkey sent fighters from Syria to support them in the conflict.

Turkey's stance on Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

Turkey has historically had strong relations with Azerbaijan, and the country was one of the first to recognise Azerbaijan's independence in 1918 and its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, Turkey has been a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan in its efforts to consolidate its independence and preserve its territorial integrity.

Turkey supported Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, which began in 1988. In 1993, Turkey joined Azerbaijan in imposing a full economic embargo on Armenia, and the border between the two states has remained closed. Turkey has also supplied Azerbaijan with arms and held joint military drills to improve combat interoperability. In 2020, Turkey backed Azerbaijan's effort to drive ethnic Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, providing armed drones.

Turkey's support for Azerbaijan continued in 2022, with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar stating that Turkey "has always stood by brotherly Azerbaijan and will continue to stand by it in its just causes". Clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia in September 2022 led to Turkey calling on Armenia to "cease its provocations" and focus on peace negotiations.

Turkey's stance on the conflict is influenced by its close alliance with Azerbaijan and its own tensions with Armenia, including a border blockade and disputes over the recognition of the Armenian genocide. Turkey's support for Azerbaijan has enhanced its prestige in the region and positioned it as a key power broker in the South Caucasus.

In recent years, Turkey has also been involved in tensions with Greece, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan making threatening statements towards Greece and claiming Greek territory as Turkish land.

Turkey's military support to Azerbaijan

Turkey has provided extensive military support to Azerbaijan, with the two countries sharing strong relations as the only two predominantly Turkic countries located west of the Caspian Sea.

Military Cooperation

Military cooperation between the two countries first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed on military education and weapon equipment. Since then, Turkey has helped Azerbaijan build its armed forces, with the Azerbaijani military receiving training and education in Turkey, and later in Azerbaijan. In 2010, the two countries signed the Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Mutual Support, which allowed Azerbaijani military personnel to participate in Turkish military exercises and conduct visits.

Joint Military Drills

Turkey and Azerbaijan have held joint military drills to improve combat interoperability since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Arms Supplies

Turkey has supplied arms to Azerbaijan, including armed Bayraktar TB2 drones, which were used to great effect during the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Senior Military Personnel

Turkey has provided senior military personnel to advise on Azerbaijan's operational plans and command during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Joint Military Facility

In 2010, an agreement was reached between the two countries to launch a joint military facility, with Turkish military assistance exceeding $200 million that year.

Security Cooperation

The two countries have closely cooperated on defense and security, signing treaties to become guarantors of each other's security in case of an attack by foreign forces.

Shusha Declaration

In 2021, the two countries signed the Shusha Declaration, pledging to increase military cooperation, including plans to establish a factory in Azerbaijan for jointly building armed drones.

Nakhchivan Military Base

Azerbaijan's military doctrine allows for foreign military bases in the country, and there has been speculation that Turkey could station troops in the Nakhchivan region, an Azerbaijani exclave surrounded by Armenia and Turkey. While no official information is available, the base in Nakhchivan has received heavy Turkish support in the past.

Turkey-Azerbaijan economic partnership

Turkey and Azerbaijan have historically enjoyed strong relations, with both countries being the only two predominantly Turkic countries located west of the Caspian Sea. This close relationship has translated into a robust economic partnership, with several joint infrastructure projects and natural gas negotiations.

Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan's independence in 1918 and the first to recognize its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, Turkey has been a strong supporter of Azerbaijan's efforts to consolidate its independence and preserve its territorial integrity. This support has extended to the economic realm, with Turkey recognizing Azerbaijan's potential to become a significant energy player due to its rich natural resources in the Caspian Sea.

One of the most notable examples of economic cooperation between the two countries is their collaboration on energy projects. Turkey is highly dependent on energy imports, and Azerbaijan has become its major gas supplier as of 2020. The two countries have cooperated on several pipeline projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, and the proposed Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. These projects have enhanced Turkey's energy security and positioned it as a crucial link between energy producers and consumer societies in Europe and beyond.

In addition to energy projects, Turkey and Azerbaijan have also collaborated on other infrastructure initiatives. For example, the two countries, along with Georgia, have worked together on the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, improving regional connectivity.

The economic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan is also formalized through the Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Mutual Support, signed by the presidents of both countries. This agreement consists of 23 articles and five chapters, one of which is dedicated to economic cooperation. Under this agreement, both countries have committed to supporting each other in various areas, including economic development and trade.

The strong economic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan is built upon their shared linguistic and cultural ties, as well as their mutual interest in energy security and regional development. This partnership has made them key players in European energy security and has contributed to the improvement of infrastructure and economic growth in both countries.

Turkey's diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan

Turkey and Azerbaijan have historically enjoyed strong diplomatic relations, with both countries referring to themselves as "one nation, two states". Turkey was one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence in 1918 and again in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since then, Turkey has supported Azerbaijan's efforts to consolidate its independence, preserve its territorial integrity, and develop its economy.

Turkey and Azerbaijan have close cultural, linguistic, and economic ties. They have collaborated on several infrastructure projects, including the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, and the proposed Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. These projects have enhanced their strategic role in European energy security.

Military cooperation between the two countries has been significant, with Turkey providing political support, arms supplies, and joint military drills. In recent years, they have conducted joint military exercises and established the Nakhchivan Military Base, with Turkey pledging full support to Azerbaijan in using its right to self-defence against Armenian attacks.

Turkey has also supported Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia. Following a UN Security Council resolution in 1993, Turkey joined Azerbaijan in imposing an economic embargo on Armenia and closed its border, demanding the withdrawal of Armenian forces from the disputed region. Turkey has made diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, supporting indirect bilateral talks and initiating trilateral dialogues, but its own tensions with Armenia over historical and border issues have complicated these efforts.

In summary, Turkey and Azerbaijan share a close diplomatic relationship, characterised by strong political, military, and economic cooperation. Turkey has consistently supported Azerbaijan in its conflicts with Armenia, including the recent flare-up in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Turkey's stance on Azerbaijan's territorial integrity

Turkey has been a strong supporter of Azerbaijan since recognising its independence in 1918 and again in 1991. The two countries share cultural and linguistic ties and are the only two predominantly Turkic countries located west of the Caspian Sea. Former Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev often described the two as being "one nation, two states".

Turkey has supported Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, and in its efforts to consolidate its independence and preserve its territorial integrity. In 1993, Turkey joined Azerbaijan in imposing a full economic embargo on Armenia, and the border between the two states was closed. Turkey has also supplied arms to Azerbaijan and held joint military drills to improve combat interoperability since the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

In September 2022, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar reiterated Turkey's support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia at a United Nations news conference. Turkey has also supported Azerbaijan politically, for example, by not recognising the previously de facto independent republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, otherwise known as Artsakh.

Turkey has also been involved in infrastructure projects with Azerbaijan, such as the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, the South Caucasus Pipeline, and the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway. These projects have helped to improve Azerbaijan's economic potential and allowed Turkey to cultivate a new strategic role as the "missing link" in a chain connecting producers of vast mineral resources with consumer societies in Europe, America and beyond.

In addition to political and economic support, Turkey has also provided military assistance to Azerbaijan. In December 2010, both countries signed treaties that make each other a guarantor in case of an attack by foreign forces. More than 20 Turkish defence industry companies have cooperative and commercial relations with Azerbaijan.

In recent years, Turkey has also supported Azerbaijan in its tensions with Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean. In September 2020, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev vowed to "stand with Turkey under any circumstances without any hesitation".

However, there have been some tensions in the relationship. In 2010, Azerbaijani President Aliyev expressed his "distaste" for the Turkish government and its foreign policy, particularly its "hostility to Israel" and support for "Hamas and Gaza".

Overall, Turkey has taken a strong stance in support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, through political, economic, and military means.

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