Erdoğan joins Aliyev for Victory Day in Karabakh: 'This unity will last forever'

Azerbaijan marked Victory Day on Sunday, the sixth anniversary of the end of the Karabakh war, with nationwide commemorations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also took part in the events, in a gesture seen as a symbol of the close alliance between the two countries.

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev led the commemorations by laying a wreath at the Victory Monument in Khankendi, where he paid 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 and congratulated both the nation and the Armed Forces for their victory six years ago. He said, 'The liberation of Shusha effectively decided the outcome of the Second Garabagh War.'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan travelled to Azerbaijan to participate in the commemorations at Aliyev's invitation. He was accompanied by his wife, Emine Erdoğan. Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva greeted them in Karabakh.

The 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.

Welcoming Erdoğan, Aliyev described the Turkish president's presence at the commemorations in Karabakh as a demonstration of their alliance's strength. At a joint press conference he declared, 'This unity will last forever. Your presence with us on Victory Day brings joy to the entire Azerbaijani people.' He added that the two countries were stronger together and that Erdoğan's visit to Karabakh demonstrated their unity to the world.

In a post on X, Erdoğan said that 'six years ago, under the resolute leadership of my brother Ilham, the Azerbaijani people stood united and, with great heroism, restored Karabakh's freedom.' He added, 'This glorious victory remains the finest expression of Azerbaijan's just cause and a source of pride for the entire Turkic world.'

Erdoğan joined Aliyev in reaffirming their special relationship by saying that 'those seeking to weaken the Azerbaijan-Turkey brotherhood will never achieve their goals.'

Ahead of his visit, Erdoğan sought to reinforce the alliance's importance, 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. He said, 'I have said many times that there are no countries in the world as attached to each other as Azerbaijan and Turkey.'

The relationship was reinforced during the 44-day war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in 2020, when Turkey provided political and military support to Baku. Azerbaijan's retaking of the strategically important city of Shusha on 8 November marked a turning point in the conflict, with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement signed two days later on 10 November. The anniversary of Shusha's capture is now commemorated annually as Azerbaijan's Victory Day.

Aliyev acknowledged Turkey's support during the 2020 conflict, directly addressing Erdoğan and stating that 'during 44 days, my dear brother, and the brotherly Turkish people were by our side.'

The Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance was formalised on 15 June 2021, when the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations was signed, strengthening defence and security cooperation.

Six years after the war, the South Caucasus is entering a new phase, with economic cooperation, reconstruction and regional diplomacy shaping its future. Turkey and Azerbaijan have had a strong relationship over the last decades, and their cooperation in defence, trade, energy and transport has strengthened connections between the South Caucasus, Central Asia and European markets. 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.