A Turkish military delegation led by Army General Metin Tokel, commander of Turkey’s Land Forces, visited Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on March 11, where he reaffirmed Ankara’s support for Baku and said Turkey was ready to provide military assistance in line with the Shusha Declaration. The visit was announced by Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, which said Tokel’s trip included meetings at the headquarters of the Combined Arms Army in Nakhchivan.
According to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Tokel met Combined Arms Army commander Lieutenant General Kanan Seyidov, signed the Book of Honor in line with protocol, and took part in discussions on issues of mutual interest. Azerbaijani officials said the Turkish side was also briefed on the formation, development, activities and future objectives of the Combined Arms Army.
During the visit, Tokel said Turkey “always stands by Azerbaijan” and is prepared to provide any military assistance under the provisions of the “historic Shusha Declaration” in order to strengthen regional stability and ensure full security. He also said relations between the two countries rest on a strong foundation of strategic and military partnership. At the end of the meeting, the sides discussed planning for joint military exercises and the exchange of experience.
The Shusha Declaration on allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey was signed on June 15, 2021, by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the city of Shusha, and has since served as the main political framework underpinning the two countries’ alliance-based rhetoric on defense and security cooperation.
Separate local reporting said Tokel also met Jeyhun Jalilov, Azerbaijan’s presidential representative in Nakhchivan, and voiced concern over the recent drone attack on the autonomous republic. According to that report, Jalilov said the strike on Nakhchivan International Airport temporarily suspended flights between Nakhchivan and Baku, prompting flights from Baku to the Turkish city of Igdir from March 5 through March 9 to maintain passenger transportation.
