Azeri Press Agency
December 5, 2022

Iran should draw conclusions from Azerbaijani-Turkish joint exercises

Azerbaijan and Turkiye hold a large exercise with the participation of different types of troops. The scale of military exercises and the wide range of troops involved show that it is not an ordinary military exercise.

In accordance with the scenario, in military maneuvers, Land Forces, Military Air Forces, Special Forces, and Engineering troops, units of the Rocket and Artillery Troops of the Azerbaijan Army carry out various training combat tasks with the servicemen of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Using modern combat methods in the training, artillery, aviation, and other types of troops are applied, and different tasks are carried out on the organization of their mutual activity, building pontoon bridges in order to open a passage over rivers, landing descent in the depth of the hypothetical enemy.

Note that these intensive and professionally conducted trainings are aimed at ensuring combat harmony during the interaction of troops….

At the invitation of Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, and other leading staff of the Turkish Armed Forces visit Azerbaijan to watch the joint exercises.

…Turkey once again demonstrates that it does not shy away from anyone in matters related to Azerbaijan and that it always considers the security of its ally and the brotherly country as its security.

Another noteworthy point is related to the fact that the exercises cover the territories of Astara, Jabrayil, and Imishli regions along the border with Iran, in addition to Baku.

Holding exercises in these areas should not be considered a coincidence and should be considered a clear message from Ankara and Baku to Iran….During the 30-year temporary occupation of Karabakh, Iran, which held two separate exercises on the border with Azerbaijan for several months, did not show military activity even on its northern borders. On the contrary, until the victory of Azerbaijan in the 44-day war…[b]ut against the backdrop of the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus changing in favor of Azerbaijan and Turkey, official Tehran also changed its approach. The Azerbaijan-Turkey exercises are not conducted with Iran’s broken, old Soviet equipment, and the scenario of building a false pontoon bridge over the Araz River. NATO’s second-largest army is conducting large-scale training in accordance with the rules of new-generation war on the banks of the Araz River with the use of modern weapons….

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev clearly touched upon the points related to Iran at the opening of the international conference on “Along the Middle Corridor: geopolitics, security and economy” held at ADA University on November 25. The head of state said that official Baku is always ready to give an adequate response to Iran’s incomprehensible and sometimes openly threatening neighborhood policy in the last 2 years.

“We had to conduct military exercises on the border with Iran to demonstrate that we are not afraid of them…,” said the head of state….

On the other hand, Azerbaijan’s victory in the 44-day war against the background of Iran’s concern with Armenia and the processes that started in our region as a result of it showed how effective Azerbaijan-Turkey solidarity is. Of course, the most obvious sign of this is the first Shusha Declaration signed between the two countries. This Declaration is an indication that Turkey is no longer just in words, but also in deed, fully by the side of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan-Turkey military exercises, in fact, once again proved that the Shusha Declaration is not just a text on paper….

The importance of the Azerbaijan-Turkey union…will play the role of an effective “pacifier” against the ambitions of Iran, which is not interested in the security of the region, but rather in endangering it.

At this point, it is useful to recall another statement of the head of state Ilham Aliyev at the international conference held at ADA University, which sheds light on geopolitical processes.

President Aliyev said, “…We had more than 10 joint military exercises with Turkey on a periodic basis within a year. They were organized both in Turkey and Azerbaijan….Those who have cunning plans against Azerbaijan or Turkey should know that the Turkish army is not alone, there is also our army there. Our army is not alone, there is also a Turkish army there….” – these words should be considered as the statement of the Azerbaijan-Turkey military exercises held today on the banks of the Araz River.

Today, there is no doubt that the Azerbaijani Army is one of the strongest in the region, and the Turkish Army is one of the strongest in the world. We would not be wrong if we say that there is a “long queue” to buy Turkish-made military equipment. Ankara always declares that it can provide Azerbaijan with the most modern weapons and military equipment. The implementation of the Turkish Army model in the Azerbaijani Army is already at the final stage.

In other words, the two countries are ready to respond with a single army to any threat and danger coming from the south or from other directions. The Azerbaijan-Turkey union is able to adequately respond to any alliance, not only Iran-Armenia.

It is better that both Iran and others who intend to make insidious plans against Azerbaijan and Turkey prefer healthy neighborly and sincere friendly relations before it is too late….

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Azeri Press Agency
December 13, 2022

First Summit of Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Turkmenistan is of historical importance: Bayramov

“The First Summit of the Heads of State of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Türkiye and Turkmenistan, which will take place on December 14, 2022, is of historical importance. The summit will constitute an important stage in the development of the Azerbaijan – Türkiye – Turkmenistan trilateral format, which complements the multi-vectoral bilateral relations between our countries and pursues the further development of relations between our states…The Joint Statement of the First Summit…constitute the practical steps taken in this direction,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov said at the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Türkiye and Turkmenistan….

“Our cooperation continues successfully within the framework of international and regional organizations in which our countries jointly participate. It is gratifying to observe the development of our relations and the intensification of dialogue within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. The decisions taken by the heads of state during the 9th Summit of the organization held in Samarkand on November 11, 2022 contributed to the strengthening of joint efforts,” said Minister Bayramov.