Erdoğan highlights trilateral dialogue with Azerbaijan, Georgia as key to regional security

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emphasised the importance of the trilateral mechanism involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Georgia in contributing to regional security.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart, Mikheil Kavelashvili, Erdoğan noted plans to hold a trilateral meeting at the level of parliamentary speakers, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“The trilateral mechanism between Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Georgia plays a significant role in regional processes,” Erdoğan said, underlining the collaborative efforts aimed at fostering stability in the area.

President Mikheil Kavelashvili, in turn, stressed that Georgia will continue to contribute to the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Kavelashvili emphasised that stability in the South Caucasus is a priority for official Tbilisi. He affirmed Georgia’s support for the ongoing process of normalisation between Baku and Yerevan.

The trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Georgia has become a crucial framework for regional stability, economic development, and security in the South Caucasus since its formalisation in the 2012 Trabzon Declaration. This partnership promotes political dialogue, economic initiatives, and military coordination among the three nations.

A key element of the mechanism is its focus on regional connectivity and infrastructure. Projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the Southern Gas Corridor (TANAP and TAP) highlight joint efforts to strengthen energy transit and trade routes, linking Europe and Asia and enhancing the geopolitical significance of the region.

Institutional cooperation is also advancing, with parliamentary speakers from the three countries planning a trilateral meeting in Türkiye later in 2025. This initiative aims to deepen legislative collaboration and address common regional challenges more effectively.

Security cooperation has intensified amid regional tensions. In September 2024, defence ministers met in Batumi to discuss military collaboration and regional security threats, reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding shared interests and promoting stability.

By Aghakazim Guliyev