(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Fatima Hasanova
On December 5, the Azerbaijani-Turkish joint exercises kicked
off in accordance with the agreement on cooperation in the military
sector between the two countries, Azernews reports per the Defense
Ministry.
The military exercises involving military personnel of different
types of troops, combat and special engineer-sapper equipment, as
well as military aviation vehicles of the Azerbaijan Army and the
Turkish Armed Forces are being held in Baku, as well as in
territories of Astara, Jabrayil, and Imishli districts.
Under the scenario, units of the Land Forces, the Air Force, the
Special Forces, the Engineering Troops, the Rocket and Artillery
Troops of the Azerbaijan Army are performing various exercises and
combat tasks together with the servicemen of the Turkish Armed
Forces.
In the exercises, using modern combat methods, applying
artillery, aviation, and other types of troops in military
operations, organizing their activities in interoperability,
building pontoon bridges to open a passage over rivers, landing
paratroopers into the depths of an imaginary enemy, various tasks
are also being accomplished.
The main focus of the exercises is on ensuring combat
coordination during the interoperability of troops, improving
control, sharing experience, and increasing the professionalism of
military personnel.
Azerbaijan and Turkiye periodically hold joint drills to improve
interaction and communication between their army units.
Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye first
emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the Azerbaijani
and Turkish governments on military education and weapon equipment
and deals to help strengthen the bond between the two nations.
On June 15, the two countries signed a memorandum of alliance
that cemented the existing military, political and economic
cooperation.
The Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations that President Ilham
Aliyev and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed
during the first official visit to Shusha eight months after
Azerbaijan's victory in the war with Armenia, also focuses on
defense cooperation.
It affirms joint efforts by the two armies in the face of
foreign threats. The declaration also pledges joint efforts for the
restructuring and modernization of the armed forces. Moreover, the
two nations affirm to encourage the execution of joint projects
with the aim of developing capabilities in the field of sea, air,
and space.
In an interview with Turkiye's Anadolu Agency on September 27,
President Ilham Aliyev said that the signing of the Shusha
Declaration raised bilateral relations to an even higher level.