Turkish general visits airfields in Azerbaijan
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
The military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is as expected making positive and sustainable progress based on various factors including matching interests in the region.
Developments in the field of military cooperation over the past years show that the relations of the two brother countries are moving into a new dimension. Azerbaijan and Turkey are now more interested in deepening multilateral cooperation, giving a special focus on military partnership.
Turkish army general's visit in person to the military units in Azerbaijan during his recent visit proves Turkey's increasing interest and attention in reciprocal ties with the South Caucasus country.
Commander of the Turkish Air Forces, Army General Akin Ozturk
paid a visit to the airfields in Azerbaijan to view the overall
condition in the air force bases as part of his official visit to
Baku on March 7.
Ozturk has been informed about the potential of using air force
equipment in the military facilities, as well as the technical
support and infrastructural condition at the airfields.
Following the tour at the air bases, Ozturk appreciated highly
the combat and training readiness, and skills of the Azerbaijani
air forces' pilots and technical staff.
Showing the same stance with Turkey's leadership and brass, Ozturk
reiterated his country's role as Azerbaijan's strategic partner
earlier in a meeting with Azerbaijani defense minister. He named
historical roots and friendly relations as the corner stones of
Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation.
Turkish and Azerbaijani air forces are currently engaged in joint air force drills in Turkey's Konya region. Turkey has been the first country to invite Azerbaijani Air Forces to join in military exercises beyond its borders.
Regular Azerbaijan-Turkey joint exercises serve primarily to test and reinforce the planned joint activities of both countries' air force, explore the possibilities of joint actions and coordination in view of conducting combat operations and destruction of ground targets with air strikes.
Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey started in 1992 with an agreement signed on military education. The agreement established the close and sustainable cooperation of the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on defense and security fields.
Turkey's continuous military assistance to Azerbaijan surpassed $200 million in 2010. Azerbaijan army possesses various Turkish-made military equipment, as Turkey is among the main arms suppliers to Azerbaijan. Over 20 Turkish defense industry companies hold cooperation and commercial relations with the South Caucasus country.
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