Erdoğan is coming to Azerbaijan, but… What is happening between Baku and Ankara?

Against the backdrop of brotherly ties and strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visits to Baku have always been a natural occurrence. However, this time the visit is different in light of the recent tensions between Baku and Ankara.

TodayPress TV  reports that political analyst Asif Narimanli made the remarks while commenting on Erdoğan’s plans to visit Azerbaijan on November 8, Victory Day.

He stressed that although tensions have eased, it is difficult to say that they have been completely resolved.

“Ilham Aliyev’s decision not to attend the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit in Ankara gives grounds for such a conclusion. Erdoğan’s remarks about his planned visit to Azerbaijan, in which he said that ‘there is no obstacle that brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan cannot overcome, also indicate that there are problems”,- he said.

According to the political analyst, two conclusions can be drawn from this:

1. By not travelling to Ankara, Ilham Aliyev demonstrated a clear position in response to the attacks against Azerbaijan in Türkiye, which have been increasing in recent years. This can also be seen as a demonstration of Azerbaijan’s “red lines”.

2. By visiting Baku, Erdoğan is demonstrating his interest in fully resolving the tensions that have emerged between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

The political analyst noted that diplomatic contacts regarding the visit have already taken place. Erdoğan said that he had sent the heads of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Foreign Ministry to Baku and had held phone talks with Ilham Aliyev.

“Given the course of events, developments in the region and this diplomatic activity, the possibility that tensions between Baku and Ankara have deeper roots should not be ruled out. Only the leaders themselves can discuss these issues and find common ground. Erdoğan’s visit to Baku will be important in this regard”,- he said.

Aysel Matlab