Baku and Ankara strengthen their alliance Bound by brotherhood

On March 5, a ceremony took place in Ankara via videoconference to mark the opening of an important energy project – the Iğdır-Nakhchivan gas pipeline. This pipeline is not only a symbol of the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Azerbaijan but also a significant step in ensuring the energy security of Nakhchivan. The pipeline is designed to deliver up to 2 million cubic meters of gas per day and will provide energy security to Nakhchivan for at least the next 30 years. An important aspect is the potential for future expansion of the pipeline, which will allow for even greater diversification of gas supply sources to the region.

The presidents of both countries, Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, participated in the event and delivered speeches.

In his speech, Ilham Aliyev reminded of the historical injustice when Nakhchivan was separated from the main part of Azerbaijan as a result of decisions made by the Soviet authorities. He emphasized that, despite geopolitical challenges such as the blockade of Nakhchivan during the First Karabakh War, Türkiye has always been a reliable partner, supporting the region and its people. Aliyev also highlighted that the current energy and transport projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline, and TANAP, have significantly strengthened the energy security and infrastructure of both countries, which is of strategic importance for the entire Eurasian region.

The President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in turn, also emphasized the exceptional importance of implementing the joint projects mentioned by President Aliyev. Erdoğan pointed out that the Iğdır-Nakhchivan gas pipeline will become a new symbol of the inseparable fate of Türkiye and Nakhchivan. He noted that this project will not only enhance the energy security of the region but also serve as an important step in strengthening the stability and prosperity of the entire South Caucasus.

The modern world is experiencing an era of sharp changes, often accompanied by and fraught with the potential for serious future military and social upheavals. In these conditions, countries around the world are urgently seeking to reassess and redefine their place in the world, aiming to enter the right alliances in order to preserve their sovereignty. Azerbaijan and Türkiye have charted the right course in this process. Over the past five years, the countries have not only maintained but also strengthened their international standing. Azerbaijan has achieved this through the restoration of territorial integrity and active participation in international processes, including on various global platforms, as well as in bilateral relations. Türkiye has accomplished this by strengthening its positions in the South Caucasus, the Middle East, and North Africa. 

Furthermore, amid the security crisis in Europe, a new momentum for development is expected along the Türkiye-EU line. Both countries are making a significant contribution to strengthening the emerging major pole of international relations—the Organization of Turkic States. Azerbaijan and Türkiye, along with other Turkic countries, are determined to act together to build a shared future in the new world order.

Thus, the opening of the Iğdır-Nakhchivan gas pipeline, while modest in scale, marked a deeply symbolic event that reflects the Turkic states' drive to eliminate dependence on third parties and to foster solidarity in the broadest sense of the word. The pipeline has become a symbol of brotherhood and strategic partnership between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. This project strengthens energy security, contributes to the development of infrastructure, and reaffirms that, despite historical challenges and in the fight against them, the two countries continue to move forward on the path of shared prosperity and stability.