Recep Tayyip Erdoğan travelled to Azerbaijan for Victory Day, where Ilham Aliyev welcomed him at Fuzuli airport. The visit followed a public argument over school uniform rules that effectively barred headscarves. Military cooperation and energy links remain central to the neighbouring allies’ relationship, with talks and a joint press appearance expected.
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Azerbaijan on 8 November, where President Ilham Aliyev welcomed him at Fuzuli International Airport. Erdoğan’s wife Emine and Azerbaijan’s first lady Mehriban Aliyeva also attended the welcome. The visit coincided with Azerbaijan’s Victory Day programme in Karabakh. Talks between the presidents and a joint press appearance were expected later in the day.[1], [2]
The trip followed an unusually public disagreement between the allies. Azerbaijan’s September changes to school uniform rules effectively barred headscarves in classrooms. Criticism from government circles in Türkiye drew a response from Azerbaijan’s ruling party, which described those comments as interference in domestic affairs. Before travelling, Erdoğan had expressed hope that the visit would provide an opportunity to take the necessary steps.[1]
Victory Day marks Azerbaijan’s capture of Shusha during the Karabakh war. Türkiye and Azerbaijan retain close military and energy relations, and Turkish territory provides a major transit route for Azerbaijani oil and gas exports to Western markets. The airport welcome opened the day’s contacts; by the reporting cutoff, the expected talks with Aliyev had not brought an announced settlement of the school-rules dispute or new bilateral agreement.[1]
