Azerbaijan, Türkiye forge stronger defence alliance with key military visit VIDEO

Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, has welcomed a delegation led by Army General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Türkiye.

The visit was extended at the invitation of Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry.

The Turkish delegation commenced their visit with a solemn tribute at the Alley of Honor, where they paid tribute to the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and the renowned ophthalmologist and academician Zarifa Aliyeva. The delegation also honored the memory of fallen heroes at the Alley of Martyrs.

The Chiefs of the General Staff of both brotherly nations then visited the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery, laying wreaths at the monument and commemorating the soldiers of the Caucasus Islamic Army who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Baku.

An official welcome ceremony at the General Staff headquarters of the Azerbaijan Army featured the passing of the guard of honor and the performance of the national anthems of both countries. In a formal gesture of protocol, General Bayraktaroğlu signed the “Book of Honor.”

During their meeting at the Ministry of Defence, Colonel General Hasanov warmly welcomed Bayraktaroğlu, praising the ongoing deepening of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, rooted in shared history, common values, and mutual trust. The Minister underscored Türkiye’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan and highlighted the historical significance of September 15—the day marking Baku’s liberation from Dashnak-Bolshevik occupation.

General Bayraktaroğlu extended his gratitude for the warm hospitality, emphasizing that such high-level visits foster positive development of bilateral relations founded on friendship and trust.

A subsequent meeting between the Chiefs of the General Staff saw Colonel General Karim Valiyev outline recent innovations within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and affirm the robust potential for expanding military cooperation between the two nations.

The discussions encompassed a thorough exchange of views on the current status of and prospects for growth of cooperation across military, military-technical, and military-educational domains, alongside other issues of mutual interest. Additionally, the leaders deliberated on new avenues for collaboration, regional security, and related matters of strategic importance.

By Vafa Guliyeva