Sept 12, 2021: Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan will hold joint military exercises in Baku from September 12 to 20 according to the Azerbaijan’s defense ministry statement.
The ministry said in a statement that the “Three Brothers 2021” exercises, first in a series of similar expected future endeavors, aims to improve co-operation between the special forces of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan and share knowledge and experience.
Turkey and Azerbaijan held joint livefire exercises in Baku earlier this year. Ankara last year backed Azerbaijan’s efforts to drive ethnic Armenian forces out of the occupied territories of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas since the 1990s.
Clashes between the former Soviet republic of Armenia and Azerbaijan erupted last September when the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several ceasefire agreements.
During the 44-day conflict, which ended with a ceasefire on November 10, Azerbaijan liberated several towns and nearly 300 settlements and villages in Nagorno-Karabakh from almost three decades of occupation. The two countries eventually signed an agreement with Russia to end the fighting and work towards a comprehensive solution.
Turkey and Azerbaijan enjoy strong ties, as both countries adopt the slogan of “one nation, two states”. During his presidency, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has visited Azerbaijan more than 20 times and the number of delegations has increased to more than 100.
Ankara last year dropped its support behind Baku, whose Nagorno-Karabakh region had been under illegal Armenian occupation for almost three decades before it was liberated last November.
In July, the speakers of the Turkish, Azerbaijani and Pakistan’s parliaments adopted the Baku Declaration at a ceremony in the Azerbaijani parliament.
The Joint Declaration emphasizes the need to strengthen cultural and historical ties, cooperation based on mutual respect and trust between the three countries. It also emphasizes Pakistan’s role in building peace, stability and development in Turkey, Azerbaijan and its territories.
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