Turkey signals deeper military ties with Azerbaijan

(Horizon Weekly) – Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler told lawmakers during a parliamentary budget discussion that Ankara has further expanded its military partnership with Azerbaijan, especially in developing Baku’s armed forces, according to reporting by RFE and RL.

Güler said Turkey has “taken major steps” to boost Azerbaijan’s military capabilities and noted that Turkish trainers and advisers continue to work closely with Azerbaijani units. The minister also welcomed the agreements reached in Washington this past August between Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing them as encouraging, and expressed optimism that a final peace accord could be signed soon.

Güler underlined the growing cooperation in the field of cartography, noting that Turkey’s General Directorate of Mapping has assisted Azerbaijan in producing maps. He added that both advisory work and technical support in this sector remain ongoing.

Güler said overall bilateral ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan are becoming even more extensive. He claimed that, as Azerbaijan reorganizes its armed forces, Turkey has made substantial contributions in training, advisory programs, and collaboration within the defence industry.

On August eight, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, United States President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a joint declaration at the White House. The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan also initialed a draft agreement titled “On Peace and the Establishment of Interstate Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.” However, that declaration does not address any of the core issues stemming from the forced depopulation of Artsakh, the rights of displaced Armenians, or the continuing security threats faced by Armenia. The document omits accountability, guarantees of return, and protections for cultural heritage, leaving fundamental questions unresolved.