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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed their countries’ strategic alliance on November 8, 2026, during Azerbaijan’s sixth Victory Day commemorations of the 2020 Karabakh war.

The two leaders attended ceremonies in Karabakh, paid tribute to Azerbaijani soldiers killed during the 2020 war with Armenia, and pledged to maintain their close partnership despite differences over domestic policies and regional affairs.

Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan at the invitation of Aliyev, accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdogan. They were welcomed at Fuzuli International Airport by Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The Turkish president’s visit marked an important diplomatic gesture, particularly after Aliyev did not attend the October 30 Organization of Turkic States summit in Ankara, instead sending his Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

During the commemorations, Aliyev and Erdogan visited the Victory Monument in Khankendi and laid wreaths in memory of Azerbaijani soldiers and officers who lost their lives during the 2020 Second Karabakh War.

The leaders also visited the Khojaly Memorial and attended commemorative events in Shusha, the city whose liberation on November 8, 2020, became the turning point of the conflict.

Azerbaijan marks Victory Day annually on November 8 to commemorate the capture of Shusha and the country’s military victory in the 44-day war against Armenia. The conflict ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement on November 10, 2020, following Azerbaijan’s military gains.

Speaking during the commemorations, Aliyev described the liberation of Shusha as the decisive moment of the war, congratulating the Azerbaijani people and Armed Forces on the anniversary. He also acknowledged Turkiye’s political and military support during the conflict, telling Erdogan that the Turkish government and people had stood alongside Azerbaijan throughout the 44-day campaign.

Will not allow anyone to come between us. https://t.co/5SC2qSy67A

— Ilham Aliyev (@presidentaz) November 8, 2026

Erdogan also congratulated Azerbaijan on the anniversary, paying tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country’s victory. In a message published on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, he described the liberation of Karabakh from nearly three decades of occupation as a historic achievement and commemorated those killed during the conflict.

Aliyev and Erdogan Address Recent Diplomatic Tensions

The visit carried particular diplomatic significance following several weeks of disagreements between Ankara and Baku. Tensions became increasingly public in September after Azerbaijan introduced new school uniform regulations that effectively prohibited Islamic headscarves in classrooms.

The decision drew criticism from members of Turkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), where presidential adviser Oktay Saral called on Baku to reverse the restrictions. Azerbaijan’s ruling New Azerbaijan Party rejected the remarks as interference in the country’s internal affairs.

The move followed critical social media comments by Turkish nationals, including an opposition lawmaker and several political party figures. Erdogan subsequently dismissed Saral, while Aliyev’s decision not to attend the October 30 summit in Ankara further highlighted the diplomatic strain.

Against this background, the November 8 meeting provided an opportunity for both presidents to publicly reaffirm their relationship. Speaking at a joint press conference, Erdogan emphasized the historical and cultural foundations of the alliance, describing the relationship through the longstanding principle of “One Nation, Two States.”

“With the permission of Almighty God, our unity will endure forever,” Erdogan said, adding that the partnership drew strength from the two countries’ shared history and common future.

Aliyev similarly rejected the possibility of a lasting division between the countries, describing their relationship as exceptionally close and emphasizing that cooperation between Ankara and Baku remained important for regional stability.

“Together, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are even stronger,” Aliyev said, adding that Erdogan’s presence during the Victory Day commemorations demonstrated their unity to the international community. He also told the Turkish president that his political and moral support had strengthened Azerbaijani morale during difficult periods.

Erdogan, in turn, warned that attempts to weaken the relationship would not succeed, saying that those seeking to undermine the brotherhood between Azerbaijan and Turkiye would never achieve their objectives.

Strategic Partnership Extends Beyond Bilateral Relations

Despite the recent disagreements, the two countries remain closely connected through defense, energy, trade and transport cooperation. Their relationship was formally elevated to an alliance through the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021, which established a framework for expanded cooperation in defense, security and foreign policy.

Military cooperation has remained one of the central elements of the partnership since the 2020 war. Turkiye provided political and military support to Azerbaijan during the conflict, while the two countries have continued developing their defense relationship through joint military exercises and closer security coordination.

Their energy partnership is equally significant. Turkiye serves as a major transit route for Azerbaijani oil and natural gas exports to international markets, including Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor, which carries Azerbaijani natural gas through Turkiye toward European consumers, has become an important component of Europe’s efforts to diversify energy supplies.

Transport connectivity is another area of shared interest. Projects associated with the Middle Corridor and the proposed Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) are intended to improve regional connections between the South Caucasus, Central Asia and wider Eurasian markets.

Aliyev emphasized that the partnership had implications beyond the two countries, describing Azerbaijan-Turkiye cooperation as an important factor in promoting stability, security and economic cooperation across a much wider geographical area.

President @RTErdogan, who is in Shusha to attend Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations, was welcomed with an official ceremony by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. https://t.co/mbDx3wY2II

— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) November 8, 2026

Political analysts have pointed to underlying differences that extend beyond the recent dispute over school regulations. These include Azerbaijan’s emphasis on maintaining an independent foreign policy, Turkiye’s growing interest in normalizing relations with Armenia, and differences over relations with Israel.

Azerbaijan maintains close military and economic ties with Israel, which supplied weapons to Baku before and during the 2020 conflict. Turkiye, meanwhile, has adopted an increasingly confrontational position toward the Israeli government over the war in Gaza. These differences have added another dimension to the relationship between the two countries.

Nevertheless, both governments continue to share significant strategic interests in the South Caucasus, making their partnership important to their respective regional policies.

Reconstruction in Karabakh

The Victory Day visit also provided an opportunity for Azerbaijan to showcase its reconstruction and resettlement efforts in territories regained during the 2020 war.

Speaking in Karabakh, Aliyev said that approximately 97,000 people were now living, studying and working in the recovered territories as part of the government’s Great Return Programme. More than 40,000 people have reportedly returned to newly established or reconstructed communities, including Fuzuli, Zangilan, Lachin and Shusha.

Since 2020, Azerbaijan has invested more than $10 billion in infrastructure development across the region. Major projects include the construction of international airports in Fuzuli, Zangilan and Lachin, alongside approximately 3,000 kilometers of highways designed to reconnect the territories with the rest of the country.

The government is also pursuing renewable energy projects, with a target of developing 2,000 megawatts of green energy capacity by 2030. Restoration programs have extended to historical and cultural sites in Shusha, where 27 monuments have reportedly been restored, including seven mosques, six historical water springs, and seven cultural sites.

Erdogan welcomed Azerbaijan’s reconstruction efforts and said Turkiye would continue contributing its experience and expertise to the region’s development.

Peace Process with Armenia

Beyond reconstruction, Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations took place as the South Caucasus continues to move through a significant period of diplomatic change following decades of conflict between Baku and Yerevan.

Since the 2020 war, negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have increasingly shifted toward direct bilateral engagement rather than relying primarily on international mediation. The two governments have advanced discussions on a comprehensive peace agreement covering mutual recognition of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the reopening of regional transport routes.

Earlier in 2026, joint border teams completed the physical demarcation of a 12.7-kilometer section of the northern border, installing the first mutually agreed boundary markers along the frontier. Negotiating teams have also finalized most provisions of a draft peace treaty.

The future of regional transport connectivity remains another important issue, particularly efforts to establish routes linking Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan and connecting the South Caucasus to wider Eurasian trade networks.

The November 8 commemorations marked Azerbaijan’s military victory in 2020 and demonstrated the continued political importance of its alliance with Turkiye. Both presidents used the occasion to make clear that their strategic partnership remains a central element of their regional policies.