In Geopolitics This Week - Friday, October 1st
Turkey Keen to Deepen Ties with Russia and Iran Holds Military Exercise near Border with Azerbaijan
Turkey Keen to Deepen Ties with Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi this week. The entirety of the meeting was held behind closed doors, but both sides have made statements alluding to a broad range of issues being under discussion. The meeting comes as Ankara and Washington continue to bicker and disagree on a range of issues. Turkey suspects US involvement in a 2016 coup attempt, as well as holds resentment for Washington’s overt support for Kurdish armed militia groups.
Erdogan said after the meeting with his Russian counterpart that they both discussed cooperation on military and civilian projects. Among the areas of mutual interest recognised by both leaders were the construction of new nuclear plants, submarines, and space innovation. On top of that, Turkey expressed its intention to go ahead with the purchase of another S-400 missile defence system from Russia, much to the chagrin of the United States. When asked about the purchase of the Russian-made missile system, Erdogan said there will be "no step back" from the purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missiles.
Erdogan has had his dissatisfaction with the new American presidency be heard, with the issue of support for Kurdish forces a considerable sticking point between NATO allies. At the same time, Turkey’s armed forces are also involved in fighting in northern Syria, where the rebel-held province of Idlib — propped up by Turkish regular and mercenary forces — is under assault from Syrian government forces supported by Russia.
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Iran Holds Military Exercise near Border with Azerbaijan
Iranian ground forces have launched a military exercise in the north-west of the country near its border with Azerbaijan. Tehran will be putting on a display of military capabilities as the country grows increasingly sceptical of Baku for its ties to Turkey and Israel. Azerbaijan has been armed in recent years by Israel and Turkey and this has caused unease in Tehran, which has demanded the withdrawal of “Sunni jihadists” from the region.
Artillery, drones and helicopters will all be called upon to participate in the drills which Iran says are intended for assessing combat readiness. Iran and Azerbaijan share a border roughly 700 kilometres long and have typically maintained good relations. Explaining the prompt exercises near the border, Iranian General Kiyumar Heydari has said that while Iran respects positive “neighbourly relations” with Azerbaijan, the country will not tolerate “Zionist regime elements and Islamic State terrorists in the region.” Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev expressed surprise at the military exercise, questioning why the drills are being conducted so close to the border.
Azerbaijan has strengthened their military ties with Israel in recent years, and this has changed calculations in Tehran. Israeli-built high-tech drones are dramatically boosting Azerbaijan’s military capabilities, even helping Azerbaijan to swiftly overcome Armenian forces in the recent conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. But tensions between Baku and Tehran are also complicated by the operation of a vital border passage running from Iran to Armenia. Azerbaijan has angered Iran by detaining Iranian truck drivers as they deliver goods to Armenia.
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