Erdoğan says Türkiye-Azerbaijan ties will grow through strategic projects

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye and Azerbaijan would deepen cooperation through strategic projects while also outlining Ankara’s positions on Iran, Ukraine, COP31, Cyprus and domestic security.

According to an interview transcript carried by Karar and published by Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications on November 9, Erdoğan said energy, transportation and infrastructure cooperation was discussed during his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

His remarks offered a broad account of Ankara’s foreign policy priorities, ranging from relations with Baku and regional conflicts to climate diplomacy, Cyprus and the government initiative known as “Terror-Free Türkiye.”

Strategic projects at the centre of bilateral ties

Erdoğan said he visited Shusha at Aliyev’s invitation for Azerbaijan’s November 8 Victory Day commemorations. He said the programme delivered a strong message of unity and solidarity between the two countries.

The Turkish president also referred to the victims of the Khojaly massacre and said the delegation visited Khankendi during the trip.

Erdoğan described Türkiye and Azerbaijan as two countries connected by historical, cultural and strategic ties. He said cooperation had expanded through major projects in energy, transportation and infrastructure and that the two governments planned further steps in those areas.

Existing projects and measures aimed at strengthening bilateral solidarity were among the issues discussed during his meeting with Aliyev, Erdoğan said.

“Those seeking division between Türkiye and Azerbaijan are engaged in a futile effort.”

Erdoğan said the two countries would continue working together to promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. He also called for direct and open communication among Türkiye, Azerbaijan and other Turkic states, warning that misinformation could be used to undermine relations.

Although the countries have separate state institutions, their partnership rests on shared history, culture and long-term interests, Erdoğan said. He described cooperation across the Turkic world as a legacy that should be protected for future generations.

He added that the same emphasis on unity and coordinated action had been expressed within the Organization of Turkic States.

Diplomacy urged amid Iran tensions

Addressing renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, Erdoğan said another wave of attacks against Iran could further destabilise the region.

He said he had conveyed Türkiye’s concerns to US President Donald Trump and informed the relevant parties that Ankara was prepared to assist diplomatic efforts.

The consequences of a wider conflict would not be limited to the countries directly involved, Erdoğan said. Türkiye, the Gulf states, Iraq, Syria and countries across Europe and Asia could all face security and economic repercussions.

Erdoğan argued that the disputes could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He said Türkiye was ready to help open channels between the parties and warned that the region could not afford the cost of another military confrontation.

He called for restraint and said steps that could increase military tensions should be avoided.

Istanbul could host new Ukraine talks

Erdoğan said Türkiye would maintain contact with both Moscow and Kyiv as part of efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said further talks were planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Diplomatic contacts with Trump and European leaders would also continue, he added.

Erdoğan said Türkiye had supported what it considered a fair peace since the beginning of the war, despite criticism of Ankara’s decision to maintain relations with both sides.

“Now this bloodshed must stop,” Erdoğan said.

He pointed to earlier negotiations held in Istanbul, the Black Sea grain initiative and prisoner exchanges as examples of Türkiye’s ability to facilitate talks and humanitarian arrangements.

If the necessary conditions emerge, Istanbul could again serve as a centre for negotiations, Erdoğan said. He added that Ankara was prepared to use its diplomatic and humanitarian channels to support a settlement.

Responding to a question about expected contacts in Abu Dhabi, Erdoğan said Türkiye supported an equitable solution rather than the position of any single party.

Ankara’s ability to maintain relations with both warring countries had helped keep communication channels open, he said. Erdoğan added that he remained more hopeful about the prospects for peace, although he did not announce a timetable for new negotiations.

COP31 expected to focus on implementation

Speaking about the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Erdoğan said the meeting would provide an opportunity to present Türkiye’s climate policies to a wider international audience.

He argued that the summit should produce practical decisions rather than conclude with political declarations and commitments that are not implemented.

Climate change is already a major challenge and will become more severe if effective measures are delayed, Erdoğan said.

He identified climate justice, green industrial development, resilient cities and practical climate policies as areas expected to feature on the summit’s agenda.

Erdoğan said COP31 should go beyond bringing world leaders together and issuing a final declaration. Countries should instead turn their commitments into measurable action, he said, adding that Türkiye would promote sustainable policies and implementation plans during the conference.

Recognition urged for Northern Cyprus

On Cyprus, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for a two-state solution and said the existence of two separate peoples and two separate states on the island should be recognised.

He argued that previously attempted settlement models had failed to produce a lasting agreement and had resulted in a loss of time and diplomatic energy.

Erdoğan called on the international community, particularly countries described by Ankara as friends and partners, to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and establish political, diplomatic and economic relations with it.

He said the sovereign equality and equal international status of Turkish Cypriots should be formally acknowledged and the restrictions imposed on the community should be lifted.

Türkiye would continue initiatives aimed at increasing the international visibility of Northern Cyprus, Erdoğan said. He described the Cyprus issue as a national cause for Ankara.

Erdoğan also said Turkish Cypriots would not be left isolated and called for economic and diplomatic engagement alongside political recognition. Türkiye would continue raising the issue at international platforms, including the United Nations, he added.

Verification phase highlighted in security initiative

Addressing the government’s “Terror-Free Türkiye” initiative, Erdoğan said both the government and the governing People’s Alliance remained committed to completing the process.

The priority was for the armed organisation involved in the process to complete its dissolution, surrender all weapons and allow the outcome to be verified by the relevant state institutions, he said.

Erdoğan said caves and other locations were being evacuated according to a defined plan and that developments on the ground were being monitored by government agencies.

He said an observation commission was expected to be established soon. A commission chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz was continuing its work, while a subcommission was also expected to begin operating.

Erdoğan did not give a final deadline, saying the government was focused on completing the process in a comprehensive and permanent manner.

“There will be no return,” he said, adding that the process could move to the National Security Council decision stage once verification procedures had been completed.

Referring to the Latin phrase “Festina lente,” meaning “make haste slowly,” Erdoğan said the initiative needed to proceed quickly but carefully.

The main objective was not to announce a specific date but to prevent setbacks and produce a verifiable outcome that could not be reversed, he said.

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