Azerbaijan launched a series of military exercises with Turkey

On October 23, Azerbaijan stated it had launched a series of joint military exercises with its closest ally, Turkey – the first since Baku regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said that up to 3,000 troops are taking part in the exercises, named after the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The statement said the exercises are being held throughout Azerbaijan, including in Baku, the Nakhchivan exclave bordering Turkey, and the so-called “liberated territories”.

“There are … 130 armoured vehicles, up to 100 artillery pieces, more than 20 aircraft and flight vehicles, engineering equipment and small bots involved,” the statement said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan recently announced their readiness to sign a peace treaty, formally ending their conflict after Baku’s victory in Nagorno-Karabakh and the departure of almost all of the ethnic Armenian population.

Last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Yerevan and Baku had formulated a roadmap for normalising relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan following meetings with European mediation.

Following Azerbaijan’s rapid military operation in unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh – which effectively ended its existence – both Baku and Yerevan have spoken of “more favourable opportunities” for a peace deal.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his country was ready to sign a peace treaty and settle relations with Azerbaijan by the end of the year.

The foreign ministers of the two countries and the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Russia are due to hold talks in Tehran to reach a peace agreement.