In Izmir, a significant defense dialogue unfolded as Turkey and Azerbaijan actively pursued closer military coordination. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov met during the EFES-2022 joint exercise, a gathering described by Anadolu as a platform for candid, high-level discussion about security and defense matters shared by both nations. The encounter underscored a continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties across strategic domains, including defense planning, training methodologies, and the development of the broader defense industry. The conversation reportedly touched on how Ankara and Baku can deepen cooperation in areas ranging from joint exercises to equipment interoperability and allied security initiatives that benefit regional stability. [Attribution: Anadolu Agency]
The publication detailing the meeting emphasized that the two leaders exchanged views on several facets of bilateral and regional security, with a focus on enhancing military training, defense collaboration, and the flow of technology and capabilities between the two armed forces. This discussion reflects a broader trend of aligning defense priorities to meet evolving regional challenges, such as capacity building, longer-term procurement planning, and synchronized readiness for potential crisis scenarios. The emphasis on defense industry cooperation hints at a mutual interest in sustaining an advanced industrial base to support defense and security objectives. [Attribution: Anadolu Agency]
Earlier reports highlighted a broader regional security development involving Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia, who agreed to advance military cooperation through a structured framework. Delegations from Armenia and Greece met in Yerevan and formalized the Armenia-Greece Bilateral Military Cooperation Program alongside the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus Trilateral Cooperation Action Plan for 2022. This agreement signals a coordinated approach to regional security, with a focus on joint training activities, operational planning for peacekeeping tasks, and the sharing of specialized capabilities to address common goals. The documents promise dozens of events across Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus, including combat training for special forces, coordinated peacekeeping operations, and exchanges of medical and engineering knowledge as well as environmental considerations related to defense activities. [Attribution: Armenian and Greek government releases]
In the lead-up to signing these agreements, representatives discussed a spectrum of regional and global security concerns that influence both domestic policy and international diplomacy. Among the topics were the ongoing tensions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the broader implications of conflicts like Nagorno-Karabakh, where cooperation and dialogue are viewed as essential to reducing risk and increasing stability. The conversations highlighted the desire to pursue practical, confidence-building steps—ranging from transparent military communication channels to joint exercises and confidence measures—that can help mitigate misunderstandings and support a stable security environment in the South Caucasus and its adjacent regions. [Attribution: regional security briefings]