Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi (Dec 2023)
Military Dimension of Türkiye-Azerbaijan Relations from 1918 to 2023
Abstract
With its geopolitical location and underground resources, the South Caucasus region has turned into a competitive field for regional and global powers, especially since the 19th century. Three Caucasian countries (Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia) gained independence in the region where Soviet domination had been effective for many years. In the first years of their independence, these countries, on the one hand, faced political and economic crises and, on the other hand, sought ways to integrate into the international system. These crises had negative consequences for Azerbaijan, which has been at war with Armenia, and the lack of military capacity led to the loss of the First Karabakh War. The history of military cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, which built their relations on the discourse of “one nation, two states”, dates to the Caucasian Islamic Army’s liberation of Baku in 1918. Military relations, which ended soon after Azerbaijan went under Soviet domination, were re-established after its independence in 1991. Cooperation in the field of military and defence, which continues in many areas from training and technical issues to exercises, has expanded especially in the last decade. This study claims that Azerbaijan’s military cooperation with Türkiye was decisive in winning the Second Karabakh War. In this context, Türkiye-Azerbaijan military relations, which date back 100 years, will be discussed from a historical perspective, and Azerbaijan’s military capacity will be evaluated. In addition, the study will include the cooperation opportunities that have deepened with the Second Karabakh War and the future expectations.
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