Expert: Ankara builds unparalleled ties with Baku

Azerbaijan holds a unique position in Turkish diplomacy, as no other country maintains relations with Ankara comparable to those with Baku, Muhittin Ataman, Director of Foreign Policy Studies at SETA (Siyaset, Ekonomi ve Toplum Araştırmaları Vakfı), said.

He emphasised at the First Shusha Forum of Azerbaijani and Turkish Think Tanks that Türkiye’s foreign policy strategy focuses on diversifying diplomatic tools to strengthen its global influence, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

“One of the main points that interests us in the concept of foreign policy is regional cooperation. Türkiye has tried to be an adaptive, initiative-taking state in the region, able to show initiative and, if possible, try to promote the solution of some issues. The main thing is the development of relations with neighbors. In this sense, Türkiye, in principle, does not want to discriminate against any of its neighbors, including Greece and Armenia, with which it has the most problems,” Ataman said.

He noted that Türkiye consistently seeks to deepen relations with Turkic states on a comprehensive basis, noting that Turkish–Azerbaijani ties, especially following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War, serve as a model of successful strategic partnership.

Founded in 2005, the SETA Foundation is an independent, non-profit think tank dedicated to researching contemporary political, economic, and social issues in Türkiye and beyond.

SETA conducts studies across a broad spectrum of fields, including domestic and foreign policy, security, economy, society, media, law, energy, and technology, and disseminates its findings through various publications. The foundation seeks to foster constructive dialogue by bringing together diverse perspectives at conferences, panels, and workshops.

Additionally, SETA is committed to developing the next generation of researchers and experts through specialised courses, seminars, and training programs.

By Jeyhun Aghazada