Strength in brotherhood A closer look at the Azerbaijan–Türkiye–Pakistan Summit in Lachin

On 28 May, the people of Azerbaijan celebrated Independence Day. Marking this historic occasion, a landmark summit was held in the city of Lachin—recently liberated from Armenian occupation—bringing together President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan. The choice of location and timing carried deep symbolic weight, underlining the unity, shared values, and strategic alignment of the three nations.

Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan enjoy strong and growing ties, with trilateral cooperation flourishing across economic, military, and humanitarian fields. The three countries consistently support one another on key regional and global issues. This spirit of solidarity was clearly echoed in the speeches delivered by the leaders at the Lachin summit. Notably, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan emphasised the strength of this alliance in his address: "Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan—three brotherly nations—continue to strengthen their cooperation year after year, day by day. We are always by each other's side in good times and in challenges. We show solidarity and support. Today, our strategic cooperation was once again reaffirmed at the second trilateral Summit."

The president thus reinforced Baku’s main message: the strength of the three countries lies in their unity. He noted that during the 44-day war, Azerbaijan received support from both Türkiye and Pakistan: "The support of Türkiye and Pakistan inspired us and gave us additional strength. We are always grateful to the leaders of brotherly countries and fraternal peoples for this great political and moral support.

In turn, the Prime Minister of Pakistan focused his speech on the key political stances of Ankara, Baku, and Islamabad concerning the issues of Karabakh, Kashmir, and Northern Cyprus: "Azerbaijan was attacked by Armenia. Türkiye and Pakistan were standing by Azerbaijan like a solid rock. Pakistan was attacked by India and my very dear brother President Tayyip Erdoğan, and our brothers and sisters in Türkiye were standing by Pakistan like a formidable fortress and my very dear brother Ilham Aliyev and our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan came to show their complete solidarity with Pakistan within no time. This was one of the finest moments in our history, three brotherly countries were together like a family sharing its difficult time."

This multifaceted cooperation between the three states—capable of responding to any external challenges amid the complexities of the emerging world order—is rooted in shared interests and a common vision for the future. The Lachin Summit served as yet another affirmation of the unshakeable alliance among the three nations, while also outlining new dimensions of trilateral cooperation. In this context, the transformation of this format into a stable, next-generation platform is already an accomplished fact.

The words of President Ilham Aliyev attest to this: "There are vast opportunities to gain mutual broad benefits by utilising the strategic positions of our countries and our dynamic economic potential. We believe that, through joint projects and programs, cooperation between our countries in political and economic areas, energy, mutual investments, transport, defence, agriculture, information technologies, and other spheres will develop at an even greater pace."

Karabakh reborn: A new centre of gravity

In the post-conflict period, the Azerbaijani state launched large-scale reconstruction efforts in Karabakh, a region that had been reduced to ruins during years of occupation. One of the focal points of the Great Return process is the construction of airports, which will undoubtedly contribute to the region’s development and prosperity. Notably, Fuzuli International Airport was inaugurated on 26 October 2021, followed by Zangilan International Airport on 20 October 2022.

It is particularly noteworthy that the trilateral summit coincided with the opening of Lachin International Airport, whose construction began in 2021 and was carried out under challenging mountainous conditions, requiring extensive earthworks and complex engineering solutions. Located in the village of Gorchu in the Lachin District at an altitude of 1,700 metres above sea level, the airport spans 130 hectares. It lies 30 km from Lachin’s administrative centre, 60 km from Kalbajar, and 70 km from the city of Shusha. This new air hub will become another strategically significant facility in the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian occupation. The infrastructure and conditions established here vividly illustrate the scale of the ongoing reconstruction and the efforts aimed at revitalising the region.

Brotherly Türkiye has extended significant support to Azerbaijan in this top-priority area of the country’s national strategy. In October 2021, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated: "Türkiye is proud to participate in the reconstruction of Karabakh," commending Azerbaijan’s efforts to restore the de-occupied territories. "We, Türkiye, take pride in contributing to the implementation of these projects in Azerbaijan. I thank everyone involved in the restoration of Azerbaijan’s regions," he emphasised.

These statements were made after the Turkish leader, together with Ilham Aliyev, visited the Fuzuli and Zangilan districts. At the time, President Erdoğan specifically highlighted that 12 Turkish companies had taken part in the construction of Fuzuli International Airport.

Later, in May 2024, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Cahit Bağcı confirmed to journalists that Turkish companies would continue to actively participate in the reconstruction efforts in Karabakh.

"As President Ilham Aliyev said, we will work in Karabakh with those who stand by us in a just cause," the diplomat stated. As a result, Turkish company investments in Karabakh have reached $3 billion this year.

Pakistan, like Türkiye, also expressed its willingness to contribute to the reconstruction of Karabakh back in 2021.
"We have always supported Azerbaijan and are pleased to offer our assistance," said then-Pakistani Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Bilal Hayee.

A platform bridging East and West

The relations between Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan are marked by warmth and sincerity. Azerbaijan takes pride in the achievements of its brotherly nations, just as they take pride in Azerbaijan’s own successes. We feel a sense of just pride in the dignified and resolute response Pakistan has given to India—reaffirming its standing as one of the world’s strong nations. We admire the remarkable progress of Türkiye, which today stands as a global player in the international arena.

This sincerity is genuine—it comes from the heart. The consistent use of the word “Brother” by the leaders of the three nations when addressing one another further amplifies this atmosphere of solidarity, highlighting the deep friendship rooted in mutual respect.

It must also be noted that a wise, resolute, and charismatic leader is a key guarantor of a country’s success. The authority of President Ilham Aliyev—whose words are always matched by actions—is indisputable in the international community. As President Erdoğan once said: “We believe that the victorious Commander-in-Chief, the esteemed Ilham Aliyev, will go down in history as the architect of peace in the region.”

Numerous congratulatory messages from world leaders addressed to the Azerbaijani leader on the occasion of 28 May serve as clear confirmation of this recognition.

Today, Azerbaijan actively cooperates not only with Muslim countries but also with China, the European Union, and the United States. For instance, the state visit of the Azerbaijani leader to China—held at the personal invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping—will contribute to further strengthening bilateral relations. Meanwhile, the recent 6th Eastern Partnership Summit demonstrated that EU–Azerbaijan relations have entered a phase of constructive and pragmatic dialogue. Positive dynamics have also been observed recently in relations with Iran, as evidenced by Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Azerbaijan and the statements he made in Baku.

Thus, it can be confidently asserted that Azerbaijan’s geopolitical significance is recognised worldwide. Today, the Republic of Azerbaijan serves as a platform uniting East and West, as well as an initiator of sustainable solutions to global challenges in energy, logistics, and security. All of this is the result of a well-calibrated, multi-vector foreign policy strategy grounded in national interests and led by President Ilham Aliyev, which has elevated Azerbaijan to a high level of international recognition and trust.