Big Chill Between Turkey and Azerbaijan

Relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan have recently taken a sharp turn for the worse. During a recent party conference, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev highlighted his nation's independence, which Turkey has interpreted as an attack. This has led to a ban on headscarves in Azerbaijani schools, a move that has faced significant criticism in Turkey. In response, Azerbaijan has imposed entry bans on 31 Turkish nationals.

This situation appears to be about more than just headscarves, with both nations hinting at a fundamental disagreement that predates the current tensions. The nature of their relationship, however, seems to be driven more by personal connections between the two leaders than by established institutions. Despite being perceived as having one of the closest and most genuine relationships among world leaders, there has been a notable silence between the two presidents since the crisis erupted.

The pro-government Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit suggests that the headscarf ban in Azerbaijan is a result of President Aliyev's fear of losing power. He is accused of reviving the ban for no clear reason and risking strained relations with Turkey and the Turkish people, who had shown support during the Karabakh War. Yet, Aliyev seems oblivious to the fact that "no tyranny lasts forever."