Through the Second Karabakh Conflict, the Azerbaijani military achieved notable navy success and proved itself worthy in fight by implementing the coaching, workout routines, intelligence and different navy experience gained over the previous 30 years.
Nevertheless, with this warfare, the nation additionally had the chance to look at some deficiencies in its military and decisive steps have been taken to get rid of them within the post-war situation. The shut cooperation between the 2 strategic allies of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Türkiye in navy coaching and workout routines has been outstanding. The rationale for the shut cooperation within the navy realm between the 2 states comes all the way down to the mutual belief between the duo as allies and the nice and cozy relations between the international locations’ political elite and other people.
Navy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye has been steady for the reason that Nineteen Nineties and the navy mannequin designed by Türkiye throughout this era has confirmed appropriate for Azerbaijan’s objectives and functions.
Furthermore, even earlier than the Second Karabakh Conflict, Azerbaijani troopers and officers who have been skilled in Türkiye acquired the mandatory abilities to answer the calls for of the Azerbaijani state and other people when it comes to professionalism and preventing spirit. For that reason, even earlier than the warfare began, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev introduced after a joint train in Azerbaijan in August 2020 that the Azerbaijani military would swap to the Turkish military’s mannequin. The outcomes obtained in the Second Karabakh Conflict have accelerated this course of.
The top of the warfare didn’t cut back navy exercise within the area however revealed new threats and targets. On the one hand, 1000’s of armed Armenians maintained their presence within the Karabakh area of Azerbaijan, the place Russian peacekeepers have been briefly situated, opposite to the tripartite declaration of Nov. 10, 2020. Then again, Armenia started to steadily violate the cease-fire on the border and resumed shopping for weapons from Russia, Iran and India. Iran, which hadn’t carried out a navy train in 30 years when Azerbaijani lands have been occupied, has carried out three such workout routines within the final two years, with the one held in November 2022 seen as a direct menace to Azerbaijan, a proven fact that Iranian officers didn’t conceal.
In the meantime, France has been taking steps to disrupt the ultimate peace talks between Baku and Yerevan, which has inspired revanchists in Armenia. In response to the surroundings within the area, Aliyev mentioned at a global convention held in Baku on Nov. 30 that: “Those that have insidious plans in opposition to Azerbaijan or Türkiye ought to know that the Turkish military just isn’t alone. The Turkish military just isn’t solely (the) Türkish military, it is usually our military, and our military can be Türkiye’s military.”
‘One Army! One Fist!’
A couple of days after this assertion, the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies commenced joint drills in Azerbaijan. This train held on Dec. 4-5 was referred to as “Fist of Brotherhood” by Aliyev earlier than later being described as “One Army! One Energy! One Fist!” by the Turkish Protection Ministry on social media.
Within the video clips regarding the train printed by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Protection, the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies will be seen working collectively to construct a pontoon bridge for tanks and particular items to cross over. Moreover, particular forces are seen crossing the river and attacking the opposite facet in boats.
Commenting on the motive behind these workout routines, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, “In fact, there are causes for the whole lot. The rationale for that is to have the ability to get rid of the undesirable however present issues in these borders on the spot.” This was truly a message to Iran, which just lately carried out two navy workout routines on its border with Azerbaijan and has threatened Baku in statements. Nevertheless, this isn’t the primary time Türkiye has supplied help to Azerbaijan in response to Iranian strain. Beforehand, in 2001 and 2010, Türkiye sided with Azerbaijan.
On the similar time, Turkish Protection Minister Hulusi Akar mentioned, “We settle for that any menace or provocation is in opposition to Türkiye. Something in opposition to Azerbaijan is directed in opposition to each international locations. We see our pal as a pal collectively, and we see our enemy as an enemy collectively.” As a matter of reality, within the Shusha Declaration signed between Ankara and Baku after the Second Karabakh Conflict, it was said that if one of many events was attacked, the opposite would help.
In fact, this was not the primary train held between the 2 international locations, in keeping with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Protection, greater than 20 joint navy workout routines have been held between the 2 international locations in 2022 alone. The aim of those workout routines is defined by the Azerbaijani Protection Ministry as follows: “The navy personnel of each brotherly international locations guarantee fight coordination throughout troop interactions, enhance administration, change expertise and enhance professionalism of personnel.” In brief, the workout routines speed up the transition of the Azerbaijani military to the Türkish mannequin and create a single military that may act collectively throughout threats.
A call by the Supreme Navy Council in August 2021 elevated the variety of Turkish generals in Azerbaijan to 4. Probably the most placing Turkish appointment was that of Bahtiyar Ersay as head of operations of the land forces of the Azerbaijan Job Group Command. Along with different generals, Ersay performed an lively and influential function within the transition of the Azerbaijani military to the Turkish military mannequin. This appointment was welcomed in Azerbaijan resulting from his earlier success in different navy operations. A yr after this appointment, Ersay turned an adviser to Azerbaijan’s minister of protection and wears the uniform of an Azerbaijani common.
Restructuring the Azerbaijani military
Taking part in a program on Azerbaijan state tv after the December train and commenting on its function, Ersay mentioned, “I believe that by way of these workout routines, the 2 armies gained the power to plan, coordinate and execute in a brief span of time, in order that they may act quickly.”
In response to Maj. Gen. Kenan Seyidova, the 5th Army Commander of Azerbaijan, these workout routines assist all of the items of the 2 militaries act in a coordinated method.
Different efforts are additionally being made with the intention of adapting the Azerbaijani navy to the Turkish mannequin and making a single military. After the Karabakh victory, the Azerbaijani military was restructured. Land forces, commando items and a Nationwide Protection College (NDU) have been established within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The intention of the NDU is to develop the command stage within the navy coaching area with the intention to undertake measures to assist adapt the Azerbaijani military to the requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). A command and management heart was additionally established to command the newly fashioned land forces, guarantee their coordination with different military items, consider data appropriately and current it to higher-ups.
After the Second Karabakh Conflict, the variety of Azerbaijan military particular items was elevated. Later, mountain commando items have been fashioned and first acquired coaching in Türkiye earlier than they have been deployed in Azerbaijan. The primary of those commando items was established within the strategically essential city of Hadrut, which had been liberated. President Aliyev inaugurated this unit, stating, “Commando items will enhance the power of the Azerbaijani military. Such brigades will probably be a couple of within the Azerbaijani military.” The second commando brigade was established in Kelbajar after its liberation from Armenian occupation and was inaugurated by Aliyev on June 26, 2022.
In brief, the navy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye that began within the Nineteen Nineties advanced to a brand new stage after the Second Karabakh Conflict. At this stage, though the Azerbaijani military is small in comparison with the Turkish military, the muse has been laid for the militaries of the 2 international locations to coordinate and act as a single military throughout a potential battle situation.
There’s political will in each international locations in terms of the problem and new threats within the area require this means.
Cavid Veliyev, Head of Division on the Baku-based assume tank Heart of Evaluation of Worldwide Relations (AIR Heart)
