Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov in Baku on Tuesday as the two countries discussed bilateral relations, regional developments and ongoing security challenges.

Fidan is visiting Azerbaijan on September 15-16 for talks aimed at further strengthening the strategic alliance between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. Following their one-on-one meeting, the two ministers held expanded talks with the participation of their respective delegations.

The discussions covered the full agenda of relations between the two countries, which Ankara and Baku describe as an allied partnership based on the principle of “one nation, two states.” Fidan said joint projects between Türkiye and Azerbaijan were continuing to expand.

Regional security was also high on the agenda. Bayramov said the two sides discussed the risk of further escalation in the Middle East and ways of addressing regional crises through political and diplomatic channels. Fidan, meanwhile, said developments in Iran were affecting both Türkiye and Azerbaijan and stressed Ankara's support for resolving the situation through diplomacy.

The ministers also discussed the Russia-Ukraine war and security concerns in the Black Sea. Fidan said recent attacks on commercial vessels in the region were a serious concern, noting that both Turkish and Azerbaijani citizens had been killed. He said Türkiye had issued necessary warnings to both Russia and Ukraine and intensified diplomatic contacts.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process was another issue discussed during the talks. Ankara and Baku reaffirmed their shared position that regional conflicts should be resolved through political and diplomatic means and discussed ways to advance the Baku-Yerevan peace process.

Economic and energy cooperation also featured in the discussions. Bayramov said bilateral trade exceeded $3.2 billion during the first eight months of 2026, while the two countries are also coordinating on alternative-energy projects, including plans related to delivering Azerbaijani green energy to Europe through the Black Sea.

Fidan's visit also carries symbolic significance for Azerbaijan-Türkiye relations. Bayramov noted that the visit coincides with the anniversary of the 1918 liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic Army, describing the timing as significant for the two countries' longstanding ties.

During his visit, Fidan also met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and conveyed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's greetings. (ILKHA)