Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed the close alliance between their nations on Sunday, pushing back against mounting speculation that diplomatic relations had soured. Speaking at a joint news conference in the city of Shusha, Erdogan emphasized that the bond between Ankara and Baku remains resilient despite recent friction over domestic and foreign policy issues.
Turkey and energy-rich Azerbaijan are traditional allies bound by deep ethnic and cultural ties, frequently describing their relationship with the motto "one nation, two states." However, public signs of tension surfaced recently following Turkish criticism of Azerbaijan's decision to ban Islamic head coverings in schools, alongside growing concern in Turkey regarding Baku’s expanding ties with Israel.
Addressing reporters alongside Aliyev, Erdogan insisted that bilateral unity remains unbroken. "Our brotherhood transcends our shared language, history and culture," the Turkish leader said. "That is why we see Baku’s joy as Ankara’s joy and Shusha’s pride as the pride of our entire nation."
The friction stemmed from a September decision by Azerbaijani authorities to prohibit schoolgirls and female teachers from wearing hijabs in educational institutions. The ban drew sharp criticism from Turkish social media users and members of Erdogan’s Islamic-oriented ruling party. Erdogan’s own government had previously repealed a similar headscarf ban in Turkey after assuming power in 2003. Although the Turkish government issued no official statement regarding Baku's policy, officials in Azerbaijan expressed anger over what they viewed as external interference.
In an effort to defuse the growing tension, Erdogan personally telephoned Aliyev to invite him to a summit of Turkic states hosted by Turkey on Oct. 30. Erdogan also dismissed his aide, Oktay Saral, after Saral publicly criticized the headscarf ban on social media. According to reports from the newspaper Cumhuriyet and other media outlets, Saral's removal came after Aliyev demanded his firing. Despite those efforts, Aliyev chose not to attend the summit in Turkey, sending his foreign minister instead and further stoking rumors of a rift.
Reflecting on the resilience of their alliance on Sunday, Erdogan underscored that historical ties would endure. "As you all know, relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have withstood many trials throughout history to reach the advanced level they enjoy today. The unity of hearts we describe with the motto ‘One nation, two states’ is an everlasting beacon, drawing strength from our shared past and lighting the way to our future," Erdogan stated.
Erdogan’s visit to Shusha coincided with Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations, which marked the sixth anniversary of the country's military victory over Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh.
