Baku Denies Turkish Troop Involvement in Occupying Artsakh After Erdogan's 'Just Like We Entered Karabakh' Speech

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry is firmly denying any involvement of Turkish troops in their 2020 occupation of Artsakh (Internationally known as Nagorno-Karabakh). According to Baku, Turkey’s support was purely political. This statement comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened possible military action in Israel, similar to previous involvements in Karabakh and Libya.

In a heated speech, President Erdogan hinted at the possibility of Turkey intervening in Israel to support Palestinians in Gaza. “Just like we entered Karabakh, just like we entered Libya, we might do similar to them,” Erdogan declared during a rally of his ruling AK Party in Rize, his hometown.

Erdogan’s comments, given during ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine, have sparked a wave of reactions. The president's words were meant to emphasize Turkey’s strength and readiness to act in defense of Palestine, criticizing Israel's military actions in Gaza. “We must be very strong so that Israel can't do these ridiculous things to Palestine. There is no reason why we cannot do this ... We must be strong so that we can take these steps,” he added.

However, Erdogan did not elaborate on the nature of the potential intervention in Israel, leaving many to speculate about his intentions. The AK Party representatives have not provided further details on Erdogan’s statements, and Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has responded. Katz compared Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s threat to invade Israel to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

“Erdogan is going down the path of Saddam Hussein and threatens to attack Israel. He should just remember what happened there and how that ended,” Katz wrote on X.

Hussein’s regime was toppled by a US-led invasion in 2003, and he was executed by an Iraqi court after being captured and tried.

Erdogan's reference to Turkey's previous military involvements in Nagorno-Karabakh relates to the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war ended with Azerbaijan taking control of the indigenous Armenian region. While Azerbaijan managed to occupy this territory with support from both Israel and Turkey, Turkey has consistently denied direct military involvement. Instead, Turkey has emphasized its role in providing military training and modernization assistance to Azerbaijan.

Following Erdogan’s provocative speech, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reiterated that Turkey and Pakistan’s support during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war was strictly political. Azerbaijan's officials stressed that Turkish forces were not directly engaged in the fighting, despite the significant logistical and strategic support provided. We would like to remind our readers that in 2021, Turkey and Russia opened a joint military facility in the Armenian occupied region of Akna (Aghdam).

His threats to potentially invade Israel, following Turkey’s previous interventions in Libya and Karabakh, have raised concerns among international observers. These remarks reflect Turkey’s assertive foreign policy under Erdogan’s leadership, aiming to position Turkey as a decisive regional power.

The potential for increased Turkish involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could have far-reaching implications. It remains to be seen how Israel, as well as other international actors, will respond to Erdogan’s statements. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry’s efforts to distance itself from direct Turkish military involvement reveal Azerbaijan’s two-faced approach to alliances and the intricate web of political support in the region.