Tensions Rising: Israel's Impact on Azerbaijan's Unique Bond with Turkey
Ahm' in Eurasia, Azerbaijan's bond with Turkey is impossible to top. But the oil-rich nation's chummy relationship with Israel is stirring the pot in their alliance.
Turkey's citizens are, for the most part, pro-Palestinian in their stance towards the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militants in Gaza. All major political parties in Turkey back the Palestinians to some degree. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is Israel's BFF. Those economic and military ties helped Azerbaijan reclaim Nagorno-Karabakh territory during the 2020-2023 conflict.
The mismatch in viewpoints is causing quite a stir, with protests outside Azerbaijani state oil company (SOCAR) offices in Turkey. The demonstrators allege that Azerbaijani leaders are squeezing their relationship with Ankara, waving banners with slogans like "Two Bets, One Betrayal."
On June 20, SOCAR's Istanbul office suffered another act of vandalism. Protesters, waving Palestinian flags and throwing rocks, targeted the building.
Erdogan's Turkish regime might not be known for its tolerance, but they've been surprisingly lenient with these pro-Palestinian protests—only arresting 13 individuals for disorderly conduct on May 31.
Political pressure at home motivates Erdogan to stand strong for Palestine. His ruling AKP party lost big in the March local elections, leaving many feeling the party should do more for the Palestinian cause.
Since then, Erdogan has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. "We're against the oppression, massacre, and injustice that's going on for 76 years," he stated in a June speech. "We're with the Palestinian people in all our might."
Azerbaijani officials have felt the heat, too. President Ilham Aliyev, during a recent visit to Egypt, emphasized the need to end the Gaza crisis. Meanwhile, SOCAR insists they're not making direct sales to Israel, citing contractual obligations to provide a certain volume of oil for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.
Some pro-Baku commentators argue the Turks are ungrateful, pointing out that SOCAR supplied earthquake-struck areas in Turkey with oil for free in 2023.
Azerbaijan's domestic political environment is tightly controlled by Aliyev's administration, so public opinions about the Gaza conflict have been scarce. One exception: an under-the-radar, pro-Palestinian fundraiser held in Baku.
The growing tension between Azerbaijan and Turkey can be seen in the details they neglect to share in official accounts of their meetings. For example, it was reported that Erdogan discussed the Israeli-Palestinian issue with Aliyev on June 10. Yet Aliyev's official website ignored the controversy during their meeting summary, instead focusing on the "successful development of fraternal, friendly, and allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey."
Overall, Azerbaijani-Turkish relations are deep-rooted, still managing to thrive amidst complex regional dynamics and varying partner relationships. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is just one more challenge the allies must navigate.
- The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become a source of tension in Azerbaijani-Turkish relations, as Azerbaijan's close ties with Israel contrast with Turkey's pro-Palestinian stance.
- In the general news, protests have erupted in Turkey against Azerbaijani state oil company (SOCAR), with demonstrators alleging that Azerbaijani leaders are prioritizing their relationship with Israel over their alliance with Turkey, as evidenced by the slogan "Two Bets, One Betrayal."
- The environment of political discourse in both countries is influenced by this issue, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocating strongly for Palestinian rights, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev focusing on ending the Gaza crisis during his recent visit to Egypt, while minimizing the Israeli-Palestinian issue in official accounts of their meetings with Turkey.
