Azerbaijan, Türkiye explore expansion of defence partnership Photo
Azerbaijani First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff, Colonel General Karim Valiyev has participated in high-level defence activities and observed major international military exercises during his visit to Türkiye.
Valiyev and the Azerbaijani delegation first attended the Defender of Peace – 2025 multinational exercise in Istanbul. The drills are part of a broader regional effort to enhance cooperation and interoperability among partner nations, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry told Caliber.Az.
The delegation later traveled to the central Turkish city of Konya to attend the Distinguished Visitors Day of the Anatolian Eagle – 2025 air force exercises. During the event, guests were briefed in detail on the planning process, mission objectives, exercise scenario, and execution stages of the drills.
Azerbaijani side's participation in Anatolian Eagle – 2025 includes a contingent of pilots, technical staff, and military aircraft. As part of the official programme, Valiyev held bilateral meetings with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yasar Guler, Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces General Metin Gurak, and Rector of the National Defense University, Professor Erhan Afyoncu.
Discussions during the meetings emphasised the strategic nature of the Azerbaijan–Türkiye defence relations, which are grounded in mutual trust, shared values, and close cultural and historical ties. The sides explored opportunities to further deepen cooperation across military, defense-industrial, and military education sectors, while also addressing a range of other regional and bilateral defence priorities.
By Naila Huseynova