Throughout the Second Karabakh Warfare, the Azerbaijani military achieved notable army success and proved itself worthy in fight by implementing the coaching, workout routines, intelligence and different army experience gained over the previous 30 years.
Nonetheless, with this battle, the nation additionally had the chance to watch some deficiencies in its military and decisive steps have been taken to get rid of them within the post-war state of affairs. The shut cooperation between the 2 strategic allies of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Türkiye in army coaching and workout routines has been outstanding. The explanation for the shut cooperation within the army realm between the 2 states comes right 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 army mannequin designed by Türkiye throughout this era has confirmed appropriate for Azerbaijan’s targets and functions.
Furthermore, even earlier than the Second Karabakh Warfare, Azerbaijani troopers and officers who had been educated in Türkiye acquired the mandatory abilities to reply to the calls for of the Azerbaijani state and other people by way of professionalism and preventing spirit. Because of this, even earlier than the battle 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 Warfare have accelerated this course of.
The tip of the battle didn’t scale back army 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 had been quickly situated, opposite to the tripartite declaration of Nov. 10, 2020. Then again, Armenia started to ceaselessly violate the cease-fire on the border and resumed shopping for weapons from Russia, Iran and India. Iran, which hadn’t carried out a army train in 30 years when Azerbaijani lands had 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 risk 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 also be Türkiye’s military.”
‘One Army! One Fist!’
A number of days after this assertion, the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies commenced joint drills in Azerbaijan. This train held on Dec. 4-5 was known 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 models 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 acknowledged, “In fact, there are causes for every part. The explanation 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 army workout routines on its border with Azerbaijan and has threatened Baku in statements. Nonetheless, this isn’t the primary time Türkiye has provided 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 risk or provocation is in opposition to Türkiye. Something in opposition to Azerbaijan is directed in opposition to each international locations. We see our good friend as a good friend collectively, and we see our enemy as an enemy collectively.” As a matter of truth, within the Shusha Declaration signed between Ankara and Baku after the Second Karabakh Warfare, it was acknowledged 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, based on the Azerbaijani Ministry of Protection, greater than 20 joint army workout routines had 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 army personnel of each brotherly international locations guarantee fight coordination throughout troop interactions, enhance administration, trade 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 choice by the Supreme Navy Council in August 2021 elevated the variety of Turkish generals in Azerbaijan to 4. Essentially the most putting 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 energetic 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 army operations. A 12 months after this appointment, Ersay grew to become an adviser to Azerbaijan’s minister of protection and wears the uniform of an Azerbaijani basic.
Restructuring the Azerbaijani military
Taking part in a program on Azerbaijan state tv after the December train and commenting on its objective, Ersay mentioned, “I feel 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 might act quickly.”
In response to Maj. Gen. Kenan Seyidova, the 5th Army Commander of Azerbaijan, these workout routines assist all of the models of the 2 militaries act in a coordinated method.
Different efforts are additionally being made with the purpose of adapting the Azerbaijani army to the Turkish mannequin and making a single military. After the Karabakh victory, the Azerbaijani military was restructured. Land forces, commando models and a Nationwide Protection College (NDU) had been established within the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The purpose of the NDU is to develop the command stage within the army coaching area as a way 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 models, consider info accurately and current it to higher-ups.
After the Second Karabakh Warfare, the variety of Azerbaijan military particular models was elevated. Later, mountain commando models had been fashioned and first acquired coaching in Türkiye earlier than they had been deployed in Azerbaijan. The primary of those commando models was established within the strategically essential city of Hadrut, which had been liberated. President Aliyev inaugurated this unit, stating, “Commando models will enhance the power of the Azerbaijani military. Such brigades will likely 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 army cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye that began within the Nineteen Nineties advanced to a brand new stage after the Second Karabakh Warfare. At this stage, though the Azerbaijani military is small in comparison with the Turkish military, the inspiration has been laid for the militaries of the 2 international locations to coordinate and act as a single military throughout a doable battle state of affairs.
There may be political will in each international locations in the case of the difficulty and new threats within the area require this capacity.
