Azerbaijan – Türkiye: Unbreakable brotherhood and cooperation The “One Nation, Two States” spirit

Recently, not only we, but perhaps the entire Turkic world closely followed the official visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Türkiye, which was linked to his participation in the opening ceremony of the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline. However, let’s agree that the relationship between Ankara and Baku has long transcended the framework of mutual visits by Ilham Aliyev or Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. For both the leaders of the two countries and the peoples, what matters more, is the warm and brotherly nature of the relationship. This is a unique moment for the world – one of its kind, irreplaceable. After all, it is this brotherhood that forms the foundation of what has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future.

This is exemplified by the brilliant decisions made by national leader Heydar Aliyev during his tenure as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly (SA) of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR). This period was one of the most difficult for Azerbaijan, especially due to the First Karabakh War and the simultaneous blockade of Nakhchivan. During this time, Heydar Aliyev took masterful steps. In March 1992, a joint Cooperation Protocol was signed in Türkiye, outlining the provision of financial, economic, and technical assistance to the NAR by the Republic of Türkiye, a loan of 100 million dollars, and the opportunity for 100 students to receive annual education in Türkiye.

On May 28, 1992, Republic Day, a particularly symbolic moment occurred with the opening of the "Umid" (Hope) Bridge over the Araz River, linking Nakhchivan and Türkiye. As the national leader expressed, "Our peoples call this the bridge of hope, of aspirations." As Heydar Aliyev explained, "I built the road to Türkiye, the bridge over the river, and established the supply of goods." Following this, a high-voltage power line was constructed from the Iğdır region of Türkiye, enabling Nakhchivan to largely meet its internal electricity needs. With these strategic steps, the national leader was able to break the blockade of Nakhchivan.

These historical moments are so significant in Azerbaijan's history that President Ilham Aliyev referred to them in his speech on March 5, highlighting the reasons "why Nakhchivan was not occupied at the time." He emphasized the wise policy of the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the NAR, the mobilization of Nakhchivanians to defend their land, and the commissioning of the "Umid" Bridge, through which aid from Türkiye was delivered, contributing significantly to the defense of Nakhchivan.

The world has become accustomed to the fact that in his programmatic speeches, such as the March 5 address, the President of Azerbaijan clearly emphasizes all key points, including historical, political-economic, and socio-cultural paradigms. Therefore, Ilham Aliyev's reference to the year 1992, as well as his statement about the 1920 separation of Western Zangezur from Azerbaijan by Soviet power and its annexation to Armenia—resulting in the severing of the land connection "between the main part of Azerbaijan and its inseparable part, Nakhchivan"—carried significant meaning. Specifically, the events of the 1920s led to the complex situation Azerbaijan faced at the end of the last century, against which only Heydar Aliyev's masterful actions during his time in Nakhchivan, and later as the leader of the entire country, saved Azerbaijan's statehood. One of the cornerstones of this was the Azerbaijan-Türkiye relationship. Thus, Ilham Aliyev's description of the opening of the Igdir-Nakhchivan gas pipeline as "an important day in the history of Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship and brotherhood " resonates as an essential part of the strong and unbreakable bond between the countries and peoples, a connection that began in the early 1990s.

As for the gas pipeline opened on March 5, it will "ensure the energy security of Nakhchivan," while the President of Azerbaijan emphasized that today, the gas transported through Türkiye’s territory "contributes to the energy security of many countries." The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, and TANAP projects "not only connected our countries but also redrawn the energy map of Eurasia."

Ilham Aliyev once again highlighted the perspective of "the unification of the Turkic world," within which "eternal" unity should be ensured, and relations should be established based on “common interests and shared history." In this context, the President succinctly emphasized "the unity, friendship, and brotherhood between Türkiye and Azerbaijan." This inevitably called for a brief look back at recent history, when, from the very beginning of the Second Karabakh War in 2020, Erdoğan stated that "Türkiye, today as always, stands alongside its Azerbaijani brothers with all its capabilities."

On the December 10 parade of the same year, Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the President of Türkiye "supported Azerbaijan's just cause from the first hours. His open, unequivocal and harsh statements made the Azerbaijani people very happy. My brother said that Azerbaijan was right in this war! He said that Azerbaijan was not alone and Türkiye was always with Azerbaijan. It is a manifestation of our unity and brotherhood." On that historic day, Erdoğan, stating that "my brother Ilham Aliyev has fulfilled the dream left to him by the late Heydar Aliyev," said that he wanted to "pay tribute here to the founder of a strong Azerbaijan, the national leader Heydar Aliyev." This emphasis by the Turkish President particularly highlighted the statement made by the national leader (in 1994) that "the brotherly, friendly relations between our peoples, and the fact that our national traditions have common roots, is today an example for us and also represents a very strong foundation for our present and future."

Let us agree that these prophetic words were fully confirmed during the Patriotic War of 2020. A similar demonstration of solidarity occurred during the devastating earthquake in Türkiye’s Kahramanmaraş in 2023, when Azerbaijan was the first to respond to the tragedy of its brotherly nation. Thanks to the efforts of Azerbaijani specialists, more than 50 people were rescued alive from the rubble, while Azerbaijani doctors provided medical assistance to over 3,000 people. Additionally, Azerbaijan sent nearly 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid to Türkiye. In 2024, the Heydar Aliyev School was inaugurated in the "Azerbaijan" district of Kahramanmaraş.

This is why, on March 5, Erdoğan stated that the brotherly ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are developing in the spirit of the motto “One nation, two states” in all areas—from defense to trade. He further highlighted the geopolitical dimension of Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations, as both nations stand for stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region, striving solely for peace, partnership, and shared development.

Let us agree that the words spoken by the Turkish leader, which resonated in unison with those of the President of Azerbaijan, demonstrate how, amid the current global collapse, where former allies turn into irreconcilable adversaries and seemingly powerful blocks begin to erode, the Turkish-Azerbaijani alliance appears eternal, unshakeable, and inclined to further development. In this context, Erdoğan emphasized yesterday that Türkiye will continue to provide its support to Azerbaijan. "Just as we felt Azerbaijan's support during the 2023 earthquakes, we are ready to come to the aid of our brothers at the first call."

This brotherly tandem holds special significance for the entire Turkic world, cementing within it a spiritual, historical, and cultural family that unites both peoples.