By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
azemedia-new-logo
  • Donation
  • Who we are
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Ecology
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • Gender
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
Aze.Media
Aa
Search
  • News
  • Economy
  • Ecology
  • Energy
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Gender
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
  • Diaspora
  • Who we are
Follow US
© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
Aze.Media > Opinion > Ways of reviving the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Israel triangle
Opinion

Ways of reviving the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Israel triangle

For the first time in a long while, some positive news has emerged regarding Turkey-Israel relations. It seems that years after the Davos and Mavi Marmara incidents, both countries are seeking ways to improve relations with each other.

AzeMedia
By AzeMedia Published May 6, 2021 10 Min Read
113099

According to the Turkish media, the invitation extended to Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to be held in June was seen as a new chance to improve relations. It can be said that this invitation was expected after Arab countries normalized their relations with Israel.

In fact, the signing of the agreement between Israel and Turkey in June 2016 and the paying of a $20 million (TL 167.06 million) compensation to the victims of the Mavi Marmara incident could have been a new beginning for the relations, but regional power projections prevented this. The two former allies engaging in a new geopolitical struggle in the Eastern Mediterranean had undesirable consequences for both.

Normalization of relations between Turkey and Israel is one of the main goals of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy, which even aims to further this into trilateral cooperation. This is because soured relations between its strategic partner Turkey and its ally Israel have created certain discontent in foreign policy for Azerbaijan as well. While the concerted efforts of the 90s were beneficial to the trilateral cooperation, the currently existing breach in the relations of the trio creates difficulties in achieving the desired results. Azerbaijani Presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev’s statement that Baku is ready to host the trilateral summit of Turkey and Israel aims to revive the coordination and joint activity of the three countries. This is entirely possible given the recent thawing of relations between Turkey and Israel.

The Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel trilateral relations established in the 90s should be considered exemplary as the earliest trilateral cooperation established in the South Caucasus region. Cooperation at that time had several important dimensions: to have a more powerful position in regional balance, to expand military and energy cooperation and to ensure inter-diaspora cooperation in the West. When we look back at the cooperation between diasporas, a successful struggle was carried out against the aggressive attacks of the Armenian diaspora, especially in the U.S. Congress.

Even though Turkey-Israel relations in the region were interrupted for various reasons after 2010, Azerbaijan maintained its relations with Turkey and Israel in a consolidated manner. Today, Azerbaijan has deepened its relations with Turkey in the military, political and economic spheres, and has also expanded its relations with Israel to new dimensions.

Turkey and Israel made important contributions to “Operation Iron Fist.” Turkey’s unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Bayraktar TB2 and Israel’s drones Harop contributed to the breaking of the defense line of the Armenian army, which occupied Azerbaijan’s territories, and to the Azerbaijani army’s successful liberation operation. Azerbaijan effectively used a combination of both countries’ modern technologies. Israel did not heed the objections of Armenia against selling weapons to Azerbaijan and, after a short time, Armenia recalled its ambassador, which it appointed with the hope of increasing support for Yerevan. On the other hand, Azerbaijani Jews living in Israel carried flags of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Israel together while celebrating the outcome of the Second Karabakh War.

Turkish and Israeli companies are working together to rebuild areas liberated from the Armenian occupation in Azerbaijan. Intergovernmental economic commissions’ meetings between Turkey-Azerbaijan and Israel-Azerbaijan were held nearly at the same time. Planning to expand its preferential trade agreement with Turkey, Azerbaijan decided to open a diplomatic trade and tourism representation office in Israel. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi welcomed Azerbaijan’s plan to open a center in Israel to promote tourism and commerce, calling it an important step toward opening an embassy in Israel.

Baku’s meditation record

In fact, Azerbaijan has successfully maintained relations with disputing parties in the past. In some instances, the country even managed to mediate between the disputing parties. Azerbaijan also contributed to the normalization of relations between Turkey and Russia in 2016. Chiefs of general staff of the U.S. and Russian Federation, as well as the NATO secretary-general, met in Baku several times in order to negotiate international and regional disputes. In this sense, Baku, as a city of successful negotiations, can be the first location of a meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and Turkey.

Moreover, in response to the balance of power formed in the region after 2010, successful trilateral cooperation mechanisms had been established by Turkey and Azerbaijan. These can be listed as Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey, Azerbaijan-Turkey-Pakistan, Azerbaijan-Turkey-Iran and Azerbaijan-Turkey-Turkmenistan. Some of these trilateral collaborations have had successful results in solving problems between states in a diplomatic way. Tripartite mechanisms offer an important platform for the peaceful solution of problems between states. In this context, this triple platform will play an important role in resolving issues between Israel and Turkey.

Based on past experience, tripartite cooperation in diaspora activities is a necessity and can achieve successful results. This is necessary at a time when multiple lobby and diaspora organizations in Washington, along with enemies of Turkey, are brutally attacking Turkey in the U.S. Congress. It is not a coincidence that U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time used the term “genocide” regarding the 1915 events. In this sense, it is necessary to increase the number of friends and reduce the number of enemies in order to counteract new moves. This definition is valid both in interstate relations and in relations between diasporas.

Regional power struggle

Likewise, this issue is important in terms of regional power balances from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Caucasus. For a long time, some states have benefited from the tensions in Turkey-Israel relations, an occurrence that both countries should not allow. Both Turkey and Israel will benefit from cooperating in the Eastern Mediterranean. A delimitation agreement will be greatly beneficial for the two countries. Besides, Turkey is the shortest and cheapest route for delivering Israeli natural gas to Europe.

The basic principle of international relations is based on the existence of permanent interests, not constant friendships and enmities. When we act on this logic, countries, as per their interests, can be friends and enemies. Today, it may be in the interest of all three states to revive the trilateral cooperation of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Israel. Only the right time and place need to be determined to normalize relations.

CAVID VELIYEV is Head of department at the Baku-based think tank Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center)

Daily Sabah

You Might Also Like

When will Armenia’s new and old patrons realize who they got mixed up with?

Baku was left no other option but the military one

US hypocrisy: support for separatism, double standards…

Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Treaty is far away on the horizon

Stronger US-Azerbaijan ties can help counter Russia and Iran

AzeMedia May 6, 2021

New articles

279412_0
Important Statements by Hikmet Hajiyev
News September 22, 2023
379564367_630493965899258_5296033125048152371_n
When will Armenia’s new and old patrons realize who they got mixed up with?
Opinion September 22, 2023
110384
Hikmet Hajiyev: Some Karabakh militants continue to resist
News September 22, 2023
2d6302e1-84a1-3b44-8de3-dddc0501ed60
Amount of products included in aid sent to civilians living in Karabakh announced
Karabakh September 22, 2023
Orban
Hungary vetoed a joint EU statement condemning Azerbaijan.
News September 22, 2023
miroslav-jencha-oon
Azerbaijan prevented Armenian provocations, says UN Assistant Secretary-General
News September 22, 2023
bajramov-v-oon4
Bayramov called for rejecting Yerevan’s attempts to abuse the UN Security Council
News September 22, 2023
16952974913378055859_1200x630
The Aliyev Administration on the outcomes of the meeting in Yevlakh
Karabakh September 21, 2023
484765
Baku was left no other option but the military one
Opinion September 21, 2023
aliyev-putin
Aliyev and Putin held negotiations
News September 21, 2023

You Might Also Like

379564367_630493965899258_5296033125048152371_n

When will Armenia’s new and old patrons realize who they got mixed up with?

September 22, 2023 6 Min Read
484765

Baku was left no other option but the military one

September 21, 2023 13 Min Read
Old Glory Flag

US hypocrisy: support for separatism, double standards…

September 18, 2023 17 Min Read
Flag,Of,Armenia,Flag,Of,Azerbaijan,Nagorno-karabakh,Conflict

Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Treaty is far away on the horizon

September 16, 2023 10 Min Read
blinken-azerbaijan-1024x682

Stronger US-Azerbaijan ties can help counter Russia and Iran

September 16, 2023 10 Min Read
maxresdefault

The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on. And it will go through Aghdam!

September 15, 2023 6 Min Read
83f65904d8be4ba918861efaa38fa1d7_6825521-1536x778

Aliyev’s visit to Dushanbe. Who “withdrew their objections”?

September 14, 2023 6 Min Read
GettyImages-1245836870-scaled

To clinch peace in the Caucasus, pay attention to both sides

September 14, 2023 8 Min Read

Useful links

c24a7d34-02d2-45a2-95ad-980aa8264ad5-pojkz9yv6xhhbce432wwxbxmnoy6uz3duxvaa480e8
426082d1-a9e4-4ac5-95d4-4e84024eb314-pojkz91103g6zqfh8kiacu662b2tn9znit7ssu9ekg
ab65ed96-2f4a-4220-91ac-f70a6daaf659-pojkz67iflcc0wjkp1aencvsa5gq06ogif9cd0dl34
96e40a2b-5fed-4332-83c6-60e4a89fd4d0-pojkz836t9ewo4gue23nscepgx7gfkvx6okbbkasqo
759bde00-a375-4fa1-bedc-f8e9580ceeca-pq8mvb9kwubqf6bcadpkq5mz16nayr162k3j2084cg
aze-media-logo-ag1

Aze.Media offers an independent and strategic insight on socio-cultural, political and economic life in Azerbaijan.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy

Email: editor@aze.media

© 2023 Aze.Media – Daily Digest

Removed from reading list

Undo
aze-media-logo1 aze-media-logo-ag1
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?