While Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is focused on the upcoming snap elections on June 24, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a historic visit to Uzbekistan in early May. Uzbekistan-Turkey relations reached its zenith in the 1990s shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Uzbekistan became an obvious target for Turkish soft power. Since the beginning of the 2000s, however, the bilateral relationship between Ankara and Tashkent deteriorated, in part because of the isolationist policy of then-President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and also in part because of ideological differences and the fact that exiled opposition leader Muhammad Salih resided in Turkey. Oxumağa davam et How Will Erdogan’s Recent Visit to Uzbekistan Enhance Turkish-Uzbek Cooperation? →

European Politics, Syrian Civil War

Интервью Радио Свобода: Трамп решил показать зубы”. Сценарии американской операции в Сирии

13/04/2018 Author

Авианосец ВМФ США "Гарри Трумэн" — **Авианосец ВМФ США “Гарри Трумэн”**

В четверг Дональд Трамп написал в твиттере, что военная операция в Сирии в ответ на химическую атаку в городе Дума “может начаться очень скоро, либо совсем не скоро”. Накануне американский президент был более решителен, наказав России “готовиться” к ракетному удару по силам сирийского президента Башара Асада. Несмотря на эти противоречивые твиты, США и их союзники, судя по всему, продолжают готовиться к удару по Сирии.

Чем вызвано промедление Трампа с началом атаки? Будут ли атакованы российские военные объекты в Сирии, если Асад разместит “под крылом” российских систем ПВО свою авиацию? И чем на самом деле готова ответить Москва на военную атаку США против сирийской армии? На эти вопросы в интервью Радио Свобода отвечает независимый эксперт по безопасности, автор книги “Сирия. 1946–2012” Фуад Шахбазов. Oxumağa davam et Интервью Радио Свобода: Трамп решил показать зубы”. Сценарии американской операции в Сирии →

Syrian Civil War

Q&A with AlJazeera: 5 things to know about the expected US strikes in Syria

12/04/2018 Author

**The US carried out 59 Tomahawk missile strikes in Syria last year after a chemical gas attack it blamed on the Assad regime [US Navy/Handout/Reuters]**

What types of US missiles could be fired?

According to sources, the US deployed several carriers with cruise missiles in the Mediterranean and Red Seas,” said Fuad Shahbazov, a security and military expert based in Azerbaijan.

“Also possible attacks with fighter jets should be considered as the US has huge airbases in the Gulf countries,” he added.

The US will most likely strike the Syrian army’s command and control headquarters, as well as its chemical weapons storage, according to Shahbazov. Judging by the current location of US cruise missiles aboard its naval vessels, pro-Assad strongholds along the Mediterranean, in Latakia province, may face attacks from the sea, he said. Oxumağa davam et Q&A with AlJazeera: 5 things to know about the expected US strikes in Syria →

Russian foreign policy, South Caucasus

HOW DO RUSSIAN LOANS “HELP” ARMENIA TO MODERNIZE ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES?

12/04/2018 Author

**Armenian Army Celebrates 24th Anniversary (Photo Credit: Massispost)**

Armenia’s dependence on Russia makes it a pivotal foothold of Moscow in the South Caucasus, as the only host country of a Russian military base in the region, as well as a member in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). While the growing arms race in the region and the recent escalation of tensions in NagornoKarabakh increased the vulnerability of Armenia, Russia seems to have reinforced its ability to ensure full control over Armenia. Oxumağa davam et HOW DO RUSSIAN LOANS “HELP” ARMENIA TO MODERNIZE ITS MILITARY CAPABILITIES? →

Iran, South Caucasus, Turkish foreign policy

Baku Pushes New Azerbaijan-Iran-Turkey-Georgia Grouping to Enhance Intra-Regional Cooperation

28/03/2018 Author

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze (Photo Credit: APA Agency)

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 46

On March 15, Baku hosted the first official ministerial meeting of a new quadrilateral regional format, encompassing Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran and Georgia (Trend, March 15). The new grouping was conceived to enhance cooperation among the four neighboring states, particularly in the security sphere. Until now, perhaps the most productive intra-regional cooperation format in the South Caucasus was the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia triangle. Under the umbrella of this trilateral format, the participating countries have worked to deepen their defense ties as well as held annual military drills (see EDM, March 11, 2014; June 7, 2017). Despite attempts by some observers to portray the tripartite grouping as an anti-Russian bloc in the South Caucasus, the three states have denied such accusations. Oxumağa davam et Baku Pushes New Azerbaijan-Iran-Turkey-Georgia Grouping to Enhance Intra-Regional Cooperation →

Asian Region, China, South Caucasus

China to Europe By Way of Azerbaijan’s Trans-Caspian Gateway

16/02/2018 Author

**Trans-Caspian International Route (Photo Credit: TITR Association)**

On February 6, the Azerbaijan-China Business forum held in Beijing gathered together a number of state officials including Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev, the Chairman of the Export and Investment Promotion Fund of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO), as well as officials from the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Chinese Council of Propaganda of International Trade. The business forum was reportedly devoted to the Trans-Caspian Transit Corridor as part of China-led ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, a corridor of 6,500 km links Asia with Europe and passes through countries including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. A flagship project of the corridor, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) Railway, was inaugurated in October in 2017. The railway connects Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, establishing a freight and passenger link between Europe and China. During the inauguration ceremony President Ilham Aliyev stated that “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will connect not only countries, but continents as well.” Thus, the BTK project is undoubtedly has enormous importance to the competitiveness of the Trans-Caspian corridor.

Oxumağa davam et China to Europe By Way of Azerbaijan’s Trans-Caspian Gateway →

Syrian Civil War

What is Russia’s end game in Afrin?

23/01/2018 Author

Turkey considers the PYD and YPG "terrorist groups" [Turkish presidency/Yasin Bulbul/Handout] — **Turkey considers the PYD and YPG “terrorist groups” [Turkish presidency/Yasin Bulbul/Handout]**

Growing US-Kurdish ties and a possible change in Turkey’s position on Assad may be behind Moscow’s tacit support.

Turkey launched its air and ground operation against Kurdish fighters in the Syrian enclave of Afrin on Saturday, with Moscow turning a blind eye on the military offensive. Russian forces were withdrawn from the area just before the operation began and Turkish jets were allowed to use the Afrin airspace, controlled by the Syrian government and Russia.

The development comes at a time when relations between Turkey and Russia have been gradually getting closer in the context of the Syria conflict, whereas tensions have been rising between Ankara and Washington, which backs the Kurdish fighters in northern Syria. Oxumağa davam et What is Russia’s end game in Afrin? →

What types of US missiles could be fired?

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 46

Stupidity is not a Handicap