Azerbaijan, Turkey hold joint military drills

BAKU

Azerbaijan and Turkey held operational-tactical exercises with the participation of military personnel of the two countries on April 8-9, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said.

“The main goal of the exercises is to improve interaction and increase the combat effectiveness of the operational units of the Azerbaijani and Turkish armies, to develop the skills of military decision-making among the commanders, as well as the ability to show initiative and manage units,” the ministry said in a press release.

The exercises have been organised in Azerbaijan at several combined-arms training grounds.

Turkey, a long-standing ally of ethnic kin Azerbaijan, helped the country develop its military over the past few years. Turkish armed forces officers trained and advised Azerbaijan units. Key was not only huge Azerbaijani investments in armaments by using its oil revenues – but also tactical advice. Most significantly, Azerbaijan used Turkish know-how – including so-called “suicide drones” to hit obsolete Armenian positions. This diplomatic and military backing were instrumental in Azerbaijan’s victory in a military conflict with Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Turkey held several joint military exercises since Baku and Yerevan signed a peace deal stopping a war over a breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in November 2020.

Separately, Azerbaijan held large-scale drills last month, when a total of 10,000 troops, 100 tanks, up to 200 missiles as well as 30 planes and drones were involved.

Analysts in Baku suggested that Azerbaijan intended to send a signal to Armenia that it was ready to prevent infiltration of any terrorist groups from the neighbouring country.

Azerbaijan accused Armenia of sending an illegal military unit to its territory in November after the Russia-brokered peace deal was signed. Armenia denied the claim.

Apr 9, 2021

DATA SNAPSHOT