Turkiye's President Erdogan, Azerbaijan counterpart vow unity after tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev pledged on Sunday that their countries' alliance would remain strong, aiming to mend a public rift between the close neighbors. Tensions escalated in September when Baku revised school uniform regulations to ban clothing deemed incompatible with secular education, effectively prohibiting Islamic headscarves in classrooms.

Erdogan's government lifted restrictions on hijabs in Turkey. Aliyev's move prompted protests and criticism from Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). Erdogan's adviser Oktay Saral demanded that Azerbaijan reverse the restrictions, which were denounced by Aliyev's party as "interference in Azerbaijan's internal affairs."

Baku also placed 31 Turkish nationals on a watchlist for critical social media posts. Erdogan dismissed Saral, but Aliyev skipped a summit of Turkic leaders in Ankara, instead sending Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. On the anniversary of Azerbaijan's 2020 victory over Armenia, Erdogan arrived in Azerbaijan's Fuzuli district, where Aliyev and his wife welcomed him at the airport.

"With the permission of Almighty God, our unity will endure forever," Erdogan said during a joint press conference with Aliyev. "This unity of hearts, which we describe with the motto 'One Nation, Two States,' is an everlasting torch that draws strength from our shared past and illuminates our future." Both leaders emphasized the strength of their alliance, which "remains unshaken" and "even stronger" together.

Analysts say the dispute stems from deeper tensions, including Baku's diplomatic independence and close ties to Israel. Azerbaijan has forged strong military and economic ties with Israel, angering Turkey, which is growing hostile towards Israel over the Gaza conflict. Turkey is also seeking to normalize relations with Armenia, while linking progress to Armenian-Azerbaijani peace efforts.