Military forces from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan have concluded a series of joint drills in Azerbaijan, marking the first time the three nations have collaborated on such a large-scale exercise. Dubbed "Power of Unity-2026," the training involved more than 3,500 troops and took place across multiple locations, including the Hojavend district in the Karabakh region, Baku, Nakhchivan, and the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.
The exercise was designed to address emerging geopolitical threats, simulating scenarios such as mass drone attacks, cyber-warfare, disinformation campaigns, and efforts to seize vessels. In the Qızılqaya military training area, the nations utilized a significant array of hardware, including over 130 unmanned vehicles, 70 armoured vehicles, 90 artillery systems, and 20 aviation assets. The drills emphasized the integration of unmanned systems with traditional artillery and electronic warfare to breach defensive positions, clear minefields, and repel drone swarms. Drones featured heavily in the training as a sign of evolving warfare, with troops training to repel drone swarm attacks, strikes on advancing military columns, surveillance, and the delivery of ammunition and supplies.
Beyond traditional land maneuvers, the training extended to the Caspian Sea, where forces practiced freeing a vessel and an offshore facility, rescuing hostages, and landing on the ground to neutralize a simulated terrorist base. Operations also included urban scenarios, such as clearing settlements and establishing checkpoints, alongside efforts to monitor and prevent unauthorized border crossings using drone surveillance. The training also focused on new challenges that have not been part of traditional military scenarios until now, including responding to simulated cyberattacks and online disinformation, as well as carrying out operations against "terrorist" positions in mountainous terrain.
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler praised the planning and execution of the event, stating, "we will prepare in the best possible way, but we will live in peace." Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, noted that the combined land, naval, and air operations significantly boosted the combat readiness of the participating armies. Uzbekistan’s Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov, similarly commended the personnel for demonstrating high combat readiness and effective collaborative capabilities.
The exercise drew significant international attention, with observers present from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. Following the drills, defense ministers from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia convened in Shusha for the 13th trilateral defense meeting to discuss regional security and cooperation. Colonel General Zakir Hasanov emphasized that the partnership between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey serves as a vital platform for regional stability and development. The ongoing defense relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey is anchored by the 2021 Shusha Declaration, while Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan continue to deepen cooperation in defense technology, education, and military training.
