Azerbaijani, Turkish, Pakistani leaders discuss defense ties, cooperation in defense industry

BAKU. July 4 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana on July 3.

It was the first trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani leaders, and the parties expressed confidence that such meetings would become regular from now on, a statement published on the Azerbaijani presidential website said.

The three countries always support each other within international organizations, the leaders said, pledging to continue this coordination.

The sides emphasized again that Azerbaijan had fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. They expressed concern that countries outside the region pursue a policy of militarization in the South Caucasus," the statement said.

The parties also exchanged views on the prospects for developing trade and economic ties in the trilateral format and cooperation in innovations, energy, agriculture, humanitarian affairs, etc. They positively assessed the intensifying pace of trade and economic cooperation, which they said should start to fully match the potential of the three countries.

"Pakistan's participation in the Middle Corridor was mentioned and it was noted that it would contribute to the promotion of economic and trade relations between our countries. During the meeting, the sides discussed cooperation in defense issues and the defense industry, touched upon the importance of the exercises by the special forces of three countries held under the 'Three Brothers' motto in 2021 and proposed conducting regular joint exercises of the three countries' Armed Forces. The proposal was accepted. As for the defense industry, the sides discussed the possibility of organizing joint production by the three countries," the statement said.

Aliyev once again invited the Turkish president and the Pakistani prime minister to the COP29 to be hosted by Azerbaijan on November 11-22, 2024. Erdogan and Sharif accepted the invitation.