Putin hints Erdogan on closeness of positions with Aliyev Azerbaijan's invisible presence in Tehran

The meeting of the three presidents, Erdogan, Putin, and Raisi, on July 19 in Tehran remains the most discussed topic on the global agenda. And it's not just about Syria - it's quite clear that in addition to it, the leaders addressed other important issues in the field of international politics. If Moscow expected this counter maneuver of Putin to the East to break the sanctions blockade, then in Yerevan the meeting of the leaders was generally called "fateful" for Armenia. However, carefully studying the summit's chronicle, we can see that Azerbaijan's position and interests played a significant role in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Armenian politicians were especially distinguished by their predictions about Tehran. Thus, according to former MP Artur Kazinyan, "The destiny of Armenia and the Armenian people is being decided in Tehran". He has no doubt in his words that all the facts mentioned during the discussions testify that the balance of forces in the South Caucasus and the destiny of Armenia are being decided, "and we are not at the negotiation table, but ON this table".

The Armenian politician is right: during the Tehran summit the position and opinion of Armenia really did not play a role, Yerevan is too small a geopolitical player. Well, except in the context of someone's interests...

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, was invisibly present in many topics. By the way, quite visible, too. In particular, as Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists about the results of the Astana trilateral meeting, the Russian side is ready to work on the construction of the Iranian section of the road, which will open the route from St. Petersburg to the Persian Gulf.

Azerbaijan, as it turns out, is also in the game here.

"Iran is interested in this, and our Iranian partners have now confirmed it. And Russia is interested in it, because from the north of Russia, from St. Petersburg, we will have direct access to the Persian Gulf. It is a very significant and promising route", said the President of Russia, adding that Azerbaijan has also expressed interest in this route.

"We have had a general talk with our Iranian partners and friends. We have clarified the situation with Azerbaijan. I hope that now we will proceed to concrete work", concluded Putin.

Thus, we can judge with certainty that the Russian leader talks about the North-South transit route, which will obviously pass through the Zangazur corridor from Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan via Armenia - with a branch to Iran or through Iranian road along the Araz River and on the territory of Iran.

At the same time, the situation in Karabakh and the search for a peaceful dialogue between Baku and Yerevan were essential topics in the talks between Erdogan and Putin.

"There are also many issues on the Syrian settlement, and promising major bilateral projects are moving and developing. We are also focused on another important issue, the settlement of the Karabakh conflict," Putin said.

Another interesting aspect: Putin reminded that he had recently met with the President of Azerbaijan at the Caspian Summit. "He sends you a big greeting," Putin conveyed, addressing Erdogan, and added: "We have a large agenda."

How can Putin's note about greeting from Ilham Aliyev be interpreted? Was it Putin's attempt to find a more confidential note in the conversation with Erdogan or a hint of some other kind, some hidden diplomatic trick?

Caliber.Az asked Turkish political analyst and Ankara Üniversitesi professor Toghrul Ismail to disclose the context of Putin and Erdoğan's conversation, as well as to clarify in which aspect the issue of Azerbaijan appeared at the summit in Tehran.

And the Turkish political scientist, first of all, explained that when leaders of this level who have interests in this region meet, it is quite expected that the topic of Azerbaijan and Karabakh will be present in the agenda of negotiations.

"Regarding the withdrawal of Armenian troops from Karabakh and other issues, the president of Azerbaijan recently made a rather harsh and definite statement. And we immediately saw a reaction - both statements by the Armenian side and other assurances that Armenian troops will be withdrawn from Karabakh," Ismail said.

Therefore, in his opinion, "Azerbaijan has every right now, despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh, to conduct a full-fledged anti-terrorist operation in this zone again."

The political analyst has no doubt that Putin and Erdogan discussed the issue both in trilateral and bilateral formats.

"Türkiye's position, as you know, fully coincides here with the interests of Azerbaijan. It is clear and precise. This is, first of all, the issue of withdrawal of Armenian armed groups from the territory of Azerbaijan, and secondly, the opening of the Zangazur corridor, as well as the process of developing a peace treaty. All these aspects were raised during the Erdogan-Putin meeting," the Turkish political analyst said.

"And by sending greetings from Ilham Aliyev, Vladimir Putin showed how closely he interacts with the President of Azerbaijan," Ismail believes.

"This is such a technique, a diplomatic idiom. That is, there is a closeness of positions, and contact between the leaders, and Putin has conveyed this message to Erdogan. Everything is clear and understandable here," he said.

The Turkish expert says that the position of Azerbaijan and Türkiye can also be judged by the Shusha Declaration which refers to an alliance treaty where the parties pledged to act jointly both politically and militarily.

"Of course, Iran's position is also interesting here. Tehran is concerned about what is happening in the region, the Iranian state is practically left on the sidelines of many processes. And that is why statements and tweets from the Iranian side are so insistent that "Tehran is here" and you cannot hurt Iran's interests. Although let me remind you that Türkiye and Azerbaijan have proposed a 3+3 format for our region in this context, and I think this is a very important point. This is a hand outstretched towards cooperation and peace, towards economic prosperity," Toghrul Ismail believes.

So, according to him, let every country in the region now think and choose the best option for themselves.

"But I want to emphasize once again that the settlement process on the part of Armenia is moving extremely slowly and Russian peacekeepers do not always do what they are supposed to do. I think, Erdogan conveyed all these issues to the Russian side," the political scientist concluded.