Erdoğan joins Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s Victory Day in Karabakh
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan traveled to Azerbaijan to participate in Victory Day commemorations alongside President Ilham Aliyev, marking the sixth anniversary of the end of the Karabakh war.
Azerbaijan marked Victory Day on Sunday with nationwide commemorations celebrating the sixth anniversary of the end of the Karabakh war. Aliyev led the commemorations by laying a wreath at the Victory Monument in Khankendi, paying tribute to Azerbaijani soldiers and officers who died during the 2020 war.
Aliyev called the liberation of Shusha on 8 November 2020 the decisive moment of the conflict, congratulating both the nation and the Armed Forces for their victory six years ago. "The liberation of Shusha effectively decided the outcome of the Second Garabagh War," Aliyev said.
Erdoğan's visit comes after weeks of diplomatic disagreements between Ankara and Baku, along with criticism of Azerbaijan from within Turkish society. Yet on a day of considerable historical significance for both countries, the two leaders spoke of their intent to demonstrate the resilience of their long-standing partnership.
Unity Amid Differences
Welcoming Erdoğan, Aliyev described the Turkish president's presence at the commemorations in Karabakh as a demonstration of their alliance's strength during a joint press conference. "This unity will last forever," Aliyev declared. "Your presence with us on Victory Day brings joy to the entire Azerbaijani people."
six years ago, under the resolute leadership of my brother Ilham, the Azerbaijani people stood united and, with great heroism, restored Karabakh's freedom. This glorious victory remains the finest expression of Azerbaijan's just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkic world.
Strategic Alliance
Erdoğan joined Aliyev in reaffirming their special relationship by saying that "those seeking to weaken the Azerbaijan-Turkey brotherhood will never achieve their goals." The visit highlighted the alliance's importance as both countries navigate shifting regional relationships and international priorities.
Erdoğan sought to reinforce the alliance's importance ahead of his visit, countering criticisms of Baku within Turkish society by saying relations with Azerbaijan extended "far beyond conventional diplomatic engagement." He also said that the "unbreakable bond" between the countries was a product of "our joint history, culture, destiny, and, God willing, our future."
Aliyev echoed Erdoğan, describing the two countries' relationship as exceptionally close. "I have said many times that there are no countries in the world as attached to each other as Azerbaijan and Turkey," Azerbaijan's president said.
Post-War Reconstruction
Earlier in the day in Khankendi, Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan's post-war reconstruction efforts and the return of displaced communities. "Today we are building and creating a free Karabakh," Aliyev said during Sunday's commemorations.
Erdoğan said, "We highly appreciate Azerbaijan's reconstruction efforts in Karabakh," adding that Turkey would continue contributing its experience to rebuilding the region. According to Aliyev, 97,000 people now live, study and work in the territories Azerbaijan regained control of as the government's so-called "Great Return Programme" continues.
Official figures show that more than 40,000 residents have resettled in newly constructed communities, including Fuzuli, Zangilan, Lachin and Shusha. State infrastructure expenditure across these areas has surpassed €10 billion since 2020.
Engineering projects have completed international airports in Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Lachin, alongside 3,000 kilometres of high-capacity highways. At the same time, green energy initiatives target 2,000 megawatts of renewable power generation capacity by 2030.
Future Cooperation
As the two leaders made this year's Victory Day a powerful symbol of the historical and political relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, six years after the war, the South Caucasus is entering a new phase with economic cooperation, reconstruction and regional diplomacy shaping its future.
The Southern Gas Corridor, which transports Azerbaijani natural gas through Turkey towards Europe, has become increasingly important as European countries seek to diversify their gas supplies and switch away from Russian gas. The proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) has also become a wider part of discussions about regional connectivity and economic integration.
Speaking alongside Erdoğan on Victory Day, Aliyev said the partnership had implications beyond their national borders. "Turkey-Azerbaijan unity is an important factor across a vast geographical area, contributing to stability, cooperation, and security," he said.
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