Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan honored Azerbaijani soldiers on Sunday who died during the military operations to retake Karabakh. The commemoration, held on Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day, emphasized Türkiye's continued support for the nation's territorial integrity.
The 2020 44-day war and the shift in Karabakh's control
The landscape of the South Caucasus was fundamentally altered following the 2020 44-day war, which saw Azerbaijan reclaim significant portions of the Karabakh region. As the report indicates, this conflict ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire, marking a decisive turn from the decades of Armenian control that followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. During that initial era, the region became a flashpoint for tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, leading to a war that left much of the territory under Armenian administration for nearly thirty years.
This recent shift follows years of failed mediation attempts by the OSCE Minsk Group, an international body co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France. While the 2020 conflict provided Azerbaijan with a strategic victory,the underlying tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain a volatile element in regional politics, with the conflict having resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
Ankara’s "one nation, two states" commitment via NSosyal
President Erdogan utilized the Turkish social media platform NSosyal to deliver a message of solidarity, reaffirming the deep-seated bond between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. by describing the two countries as "one nation with two states," Erdogan reinforced a diplomatic doctrine that places Ankara firmly in the camp of Baku's territorial ambitions. This sentiment is not merely rhetorical; it reflects a strategic partnership that has become a cornerstone of Turkish foreign policy.
According to the news report, the Turkish leader expressed profound respect for veterans and "heroic martyrs" who fought to liberate Karabakh from occupation. This symbolic gesture, delivered on Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day, serves to solidify the political and military backing that Türkiye has consistently provided to Baku's position in the long-running dispute.
A volatile triangle of Russia, Iran, and Türkiye
The geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus is increasingly defined by the competing interests of Russia, Türkiye, and Iran. Azerbaijan's recent military successes and subsequent operations have reshaped the regional balance of power, providing Türkiye with a more assertive role in the area.
Türkiye's involvement is part of a broader geopolitical dynamic where Ankara acts as both a key ally to Azerbaijan and a significant regional player. This positioning allows Türkiye to engage deeply in the South Caucasus, even as it navigates the complex and often overlapping interests of neighboring powers like Russia and Iran.
Unresolved humanitarian costs in the Karabakh transition
Despite the rhetoric of normalization, several critical questions remain regarding the long-term stability of the region. while the source mentions that Türkiye has expressed willingness to support peace efforts, it does not detail the specific terms or the diplomatic framework that would be required to achieve a lasting settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, the report leaves open the question of how the humanitarian crisis—specifically the displacement of populations and the protection of civilian rights—will be addressed in the wake of the conflict.. Without clear information on the status of these displaced populations or the specific mechanisms for ensuring civilian safety, the path toward a peaceful and stable South Caucasus remains heavily obscured .
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