“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Azerbaijan – Karabakh following recent developments should be classified as a visit of strategic détente and restoration of strategic partnership. This official and working visit is characterized by specific criteria from both symbolic and diplomatic perspectives.”
Political commentator Bakir Hasanbayli stated this to Globalinfo.az.
The political commentator noted that a few weeks prior to the visit, certain socio-political tensions had arisen between Ankara and Baku over school uniforms and mutual criticism on social media:
“This visit is a diplomatic crisis management step that sidelines these temporary misunderstandings between the two countries and demonstrates that the alliance remains unshakable.
The visit took place directly within the framework of the November 8 Victory Day celebrations in Shusha and Khankendi. Erdogan meeting with Ilham Aliyev in Karabakh against the background of geopolitical shifts occurring across the region and the world acts as strategic deterrence and a display of strength aimed at regional competitors. The joint messages delivered by the heads of state in front of Shusha Fortress and in Khankendi legally and morally reaffirmed the unshakable nature of this unity. During the bilateral meeting, the leaders discussed the escalating processes around the Middle East and Iran, as well as the expansion of TANAP and the target of 15 billion dollars in trade turnover.
This visit is also one of forward-looking economic and geopolitical integration. President Erdogan’s visit serves as a manifesto of unity and trust that completely dismantles arguments from certain domestic and foreign circles claiming Azerbaijan-Turkey relations were weakening, confirming that the two countries possess an unshakable ‘One nation, two states’ alliance that surpasses any tensions.
At the core of the messages delivered by Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ilham Aliyev from Karabakh, particularly from Shusha, lie the invulnerability of the strategic alliance between the two countries, the unity of the Turkic world, and the demand for acceptance of the new geopolitical realities in the region.”
Bakir Hasanbayli
The political commentator noted that fundamental factors constitute the core philosophy of the solidarity demonstrated by the leaders holding hands in Shusha and the statements they issued:
“Both leaders declared that attempts by external forces to cast a shadow on relations between Baku and Ankara, or to sow discord, are futile. President Ilham Aliyev described this unity as the greatest asset of the two peoples. The messages were also addressed to Armenia and its Western patrons who support its revanchist forces.
It was firmly emphasized that the status quo established in the region following the Karabakh victory is irreversible, and that Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan once again in the face of any threat. Erdogan describing Turkey-Azerbaijan ties as an ‘inextinguishable torch’ and praising the reconstruction efforts in Karabakh symbolizes not only the military, but also the economic and cultural integration of the two nations.
Joint steps taken in Karabakh serve to strengthen the Organization of Turkic States as a whole, as well as to further reinforce logistical connections in the region, particularly cooperation within the framework of the Zangezur corridor, along with political ties.”
Turan Rzayev
Globalinfo.az
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