OTS military drills could strengthen Turkic states' global position, says ex-attaché

If Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s initiative to hold joint military exercises among member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is implemented, it would send a strong signal to the world about unity in facing modern threats, said former Turkish military attaché in Azerbaijan, retired Brigadier General Yücel Karaöz.

Karaöz is convinced that joint exercises can have significant effects not only at the tactical level but also strategically, politically, and geopolitically, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Joint manoeuvres will improve command and control coordination and help develop integrated cooperation among land, air, naval forces, and special operations units. This will substantially reduce response time, especially in regional crises or situations requiring collective action,” he said.

He emphasised that the experience of Turkish and Azerbaijani forces in the Karabakh war, operations in Syria and Iraq, as well as in hybrid threats and drone use, could serve as a practical model for other OTS member states.

“Even without a NATO-like framework, such exercises can create a regional ‘security umbrella,’” Karaöz added.

He concluded that these joint manoeuvres would enhance combat readiness, strengthen the defence capabilities of OTS member states, and allow the Turkic world to assert itself as a significant regional security actor.

By Khagan Isayev