Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will focus on expanding strategic ties with Azerbaijan, boosting trade, defence cooperation and advancing regional peace during his two-day visit to Baku, with the details of his agenda now emerging.


As previously reported, Fidan is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan on September 15–16, where he is expected to hold talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, and meet Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov. Diplomatic sources have now provided further details on the agenda, saying Fidan will also be received by President Ilham Aliyev, Caliber.Az cites information provided by Hürriyet Daily News. 


During his meetings in Baku, Fidan and Bayramov will discuss the growing strategic relationship between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, as well as regional and global developments.


Fidan is expected to reiterate the need to step up efforts to increase bilateral trade from its current level of around $7 billion to $15 billion, in line with an agreement reached by the two countries’ presidents.


The two foreign ministers will also review energy and transportation projects, while Fidan is expected to discuss cooperation in the defence industry, security and military fields with Bayramov and Hasanov.


The talks will also cover cooperation within multilateral organisations, particularly the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), as Türkiye prepares to host the organisation’s upcoming leaders’ summit.


Fidan is further expected to reaffirm Ankara’s support for the ongoing Azerbaijan-Armenia normalisation process, stressing that a historic opportunity for peace in the region has emerged.


Fidan will also reaffirm Türkiye’s support for Azerbaijan’s reconstruction efforts in the Karabakh region and efforts to make key energy and trade routes fully operational.


Türkiye and Azerbaijan have maintained close relations under the “one nation, two states” motto since Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991. The countries established a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in 2010, further institutionalising their strategic partnership.


Around 5,800 Turkish companies currently operate in Azerbaijan, with estimated capital investments of $18 billion. Azerbaijani investments in Türkiye have exceeded $20 billion, with around 2,600 Azerbaijani companies active in the country.


By Sabina Mammadli