Azerbaijan appears to be drifting apart from Turkey: not only did it attend the summit hosted by Turkey at a reduced level, but it has taken another step. On October 30, according to foreign media reports, following President Ilham Aliyev’s absence from the 13th Summit of the Turkic States in Ankara, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced support for Lana Nusseibeh, the candidate proposed by the UAE, for the position of UN Secretary-General—rather than endorsing Turkey’s nominee, Feryad Sinirlioglu.
It is worth noting that Azerbaijan and Turkey previously enjoyed exceptionally close ties. During the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey provided full-scale backing, supplying drones and offering strong diplomatic and international public relations support. Turkey even declared “one people, two states,” aiding Azerbaijan’s successful recovery of Nagorno-Karabakh. In return, Azerbaijan largely followed Turkey’s lead. Meanwhile, Turkey sought to transform the Organization of Turkic States into a geopolitical instrument under its influence, expanding its regional reach—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
However, since the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the dynamics have shifted. Turkey has increasingly aspired to play a dual leadership role in both the Islamic world and the Turkic sphere, extending its influence further. This ambition has been met with resistance from Azerbaijan, particularly due to a recent domestic policy initiative that deeply unsettled Turkey’s sensitivities. The move in question is Azerbaijan’s new regulation mandating secular school uniforms in public schools—an explicit reaffirmation of the country’s secular orientation, directly opposing President Erdogan’s Islamist-conservative agenda. Indeed, over his two decades in power, Erdogan has systematically challenged the secular foundations established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, making the headscarf a central political symbol for mobilizing conservative voters.
To Turkey, Azerbaijan had long been a compliant ally—now, however, its domestic policies diverge sharply from those of its regional counterpart. Turkish officials could not contain their frustration, publicly criticizing Azerbaijan and demanding the reversal of the new policy. In response, Azerbaijan firmly rejected such interference, viewing it as a violation of its sovereignty. Continued external pressure would risk undermining Azerbaijan’s autonomy. Moreover, with territorial disputes largely resolved, Azerbaijan no longer relies heavily on Turkey. Consequently, Baku now emphasizes that shared Turkic heritage and Muslim identity do not entail unconditional deference to Ankara.
Turkey cannot unilaterally interfere in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs. By attending the summit at a lower profile and refraining from supporting Turkey’s UN Secretary-General candidate, Azerbaijan sends a clear signal: its foreign policy remains independent. In fact, Azerbaijan has already begun shifting its defense procurement toward Israel and maintains military communication channels with Russia—strategic moves aimed at balancing Turkey’s influence. This shift represents a significant setback for Turkey, especially given Erdogan’s initial intent to reinforce his leadership within the Turkic world during this Ankara summit. The lack of support from Azerbaijan, a key partner, marks a notable rebuff.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880456862891212/
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