Historic Trilateral Meeting Held Between Leaders of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan in Astana

Astana, The Gulf Observer: A significant trilateral meeting took place in Astana on Wednesday, bringing together Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, and Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This historic summit marked the first time the leaders of the three nations convened in a trilateral format.

During the meeting, the leaders underscored the summit’s historic importance and expressed confidence that such meetings would become a regular occurrence in the future. They highlighted the shared historical and religious roots, as well as the fraternal relations between Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan. The leaders also noted the consistent support the three countries have extended to each other within international organizations and emphasized the importance of continuing this solidarity in the future.

It was acknowledged that trilateral formats already existed among the countries at the levels of parliament speakers and foreign ministers, with several meetings having taken place over time.

The leaders reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s full restoration of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, while expressing concern over the militarization policies pursued by countries outside the region in the South Caucasus.

The political and moral support of Türkiye and Pakistan for Azerbaijan during the 44-day Patriotic War was particularly emphasized, with the people and state of Azerbaijan expressing their deep appreciation for this support.

In line with the spirit of their political relations, the leaders exchanged views on prospects for developing economic and trade relations, as well as collaborations in innovation, energy, agriculture, education, humanitarian efforts, and other fields. While noting the positive developments in economic and trade relations, they stressed the importance of aligning these dynamics with the full potential of the three nations.

Pakistan’s participation in the Middle Corridor was discussed, highlighting its potential contribution to promoting economic and trade relations among the involved countries.

The leaders also reviewed cooperation in the fields of defense and the defense industry, touching upon the significance of the “Three Brothers” special forces exercises held in 2021. They suggested conducting joint military exercises on a regular basis, a proposal that was readily accepted. Furthermore, possibilities for joint production in the defense industry were explored.

President Ilham Aliyev extended an invitation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to participate in COP29, an invitation they accepted with pleasure.

This trilateral meeting is seen as a pivotal moment in strengthening the bonds between Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan, paving the way for future collaboration and mutual support in various domains.