Chairman: Azerbaijan and Türkiye must deepen defence cooperation

Azerbaijan and Türkiye must continue to deepen their defence cooperation, including through joint military exercises, according to Hulusi Akar, Chairman of Türkiye’s National Defence Committee.

Speaking to journalists, Akar said efforts were ongoing to align the Azerbaijani armed forces and military personnel with the Turkish military model, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

He stressed the importance of continued collaboration between the two countries in the defence sector.

"The Azerbaijani army is currently undergoing adaptation to the Turkish model in terms of structure and training," Akar noted.

He also welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent expression of support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). "President Aliyev said we are ‘three nations and three states’, but we must also be one army," Akar added.

Azerbaijan and Türkiye, which share close ethnic and strategic ties, have significantly expanded their defence partnership in recent years, holding frequent joint exercises and coordinating on regional security matters.

Earlier, former Defence Minister Akar, has called for enhanced security and defence cooperation among Turkic states in response to rising global threats. Speaking at a TURKPA meeting in Baku, Akar highlighted the growing impact of climate change, economic instability, and pandemics on national security.

He also hailed Azerbaijan’s victory in Karabakh as a symbol of unity across the Turkic world, saying it demonstrated the power of national solidarity and strategic strength.

By Aghakazim Guliyev