Ankara – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan flew to Azerbaijan on 8 November 2026 at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev to attend the sixth anniversary of the country’s Victory Day, which commemorates the recapture of Shusha during the 2020 Nagorno‑Karabakh war. The president was welcomed in the historic city of Shusha with a formal ceremony attended by Azerbaijani officials, military personnel and local dignitaries.

During a bilateral meeting at the Shusha Governor’s office, Erdogan and Aliyev discussed the deepening ties between the two nations. Both leaders emphasized the “brotherly” nature of Turkish‑Azerbaijani relations, describing them as a “greatest asset” and asserting that any attempts to weaken this partnership would never succeed. Aliyev echoed the sentiment, stating that the unity between the peoples of Turkey and Azerbaijan is “unshakable” and that those who try to disrupt it “will never achieve their aims.”

Erdogan’s speech highlighted the symbolic importance of Shusha, which he called “the city of roses” and likened to a hearth that warms the Turkish heart. He paid tribute to the fallen soldiers who secured the city’s freedom and thanked the veterans for their sacrifice. The president also praised Azerbaijan’s post‑war reconstruction efforts, noting the “new era” opened by the liberation of the region.

The visit featured the inauguration of several joint projects. In the town of Cebrayil, a Turkey‑Azerbaijan International Forestry Education Center and seedling facility, funded by Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, was officially opened as a new emblem of bilateral cooperation. Additionally, construction began on a 14,500‑square‑metre school in Agdam, comprising 40 classrooms; both leaders said the facility is slated for inauguration in the coming year.

Erdogan also commented on the impressive infrastructural upgrades in the region, pointing out that the road from Fuzuli International Airport to Shusha now runs through seven newly built tunnels, showcasing the rapid development of local transport links.

Both presidents concluded their joint press conference by reaffirming the significance of the 2021 Shusha Declaration, signed on 15 June 2021, which elevated the Turkey‑Azerbaijan alliance to the level of “allied partnership.” They reiterated their commitment to supporting reconstruction, stability and lasting peace in the South Caucasus, and pledged to continue collaborative projects across education, forestry, and infrastructure.

Erdogan’s visit underscores Turkey’s continued diplomatic and economic support for Azerbaijan and signals a broader strategy of reinforcing ties across the Turkic world. The president’s itinerary also included a visit to Shusha Castle alongside Aliyev, further cementing the historic and cultural bonds between the two nations.

Sources (learn more):

haberturk.com — https://www.haberturk.com/dunya/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-azerbaycan-a-gitti-3925738