On October 9, the 12th trilateral meeting of the Defense Ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey took place in Ankara.
Zakir Hasanov, Yasar Guler, and Irakli Chikovani discussed the military-political situation in the region, the development of trilateral military cooperation, ensuring the security of regional projects, and new prospects for cooperation in the military, military-technical, military-educational, and military-medical spheres.
During the meeting, the critical role of trilateral defense cooperation in ensuring peace, stability, and security in the region, as well as in sustainable development and the well-being of the people, was emphasized. The ministers also stressed the importance of conducting trilateral and bilateral military exercises.
Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov stated that the signing of a joint declaration by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on August 8 and the initialing of a peace agreement between the two countries are essential steps towards ending the war that has lasted for more than 30 years, Azerbaijani media reported.
He noted that this historic event has opened up new opportunities for cooperation in the South Caucasus and beyond: “Emerging threats, such as international terrorism, the security of energy and transport routes, cyberattacks, and climate change, require countries to cooperate and develop effective solutions. We intend to develop further and deepen cooperation between the defense ministries of the three countries.”
The minister also stressed the importance of jointly pursuing peace, stability, and security in the region. Hasanov also noted that such meetings have already become a tradition: “Close ties and regular contacts between the leaders of the three countries have accelerated the further development of relations between the countries.”
He also noted that the trilateral meeting emphasized the need to jointly combat threats to peace, stability, and security in the region.
