Tazeen Akhtar | Islamabad
For Pakistanis who know about the commonalities between Turkiye and Azerbaijan, it was very hard to beleive that both countries have developed some differences and it was further shocking to see a series of campaign against Azerbaijan in the Turkish media. Pakistanis are torch bearers of Muslim unity. They have always seen these two states like two brothers from the same mother. But the latest state of affairs between the two states have forced them to change their perception because it is ever changing world.
Pakistan has been a Champion of Mediation in current year ! Pakistan is supposed to step in to mediate between Turkiye and Azerbaijan as well ! We three states have ideal connections after all ! Three States One Nation ………………….
The Turkish media first held Azerbaijan answerable for the absence of President Ilham Aliyev at the Heads of States Summit of Turkic Organization few days ago and second time now on the issue of so called support of Azerbaijan for UAE’s candidate to UN Secretary General post and not for the Turkish aspirant.
Azerbaijan has officially welcomed the United Arab Emirates’ initiative to nominate Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State of the UAE, as a candidate for the post of UN Secretary-General.The statement was made by Aykhan Hajizada, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, in response to a media inquiry.
“We welcome the initiative of the United Arab Emirates to nominate Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations,” Hajizada said.
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He added that Azerbaijan underscores the importance of a selection process guided by the UN Charter and based on candidates’ professional qualifications, diplomatic experience, impartiality, and ability to build consensus among Member States.
“We hope that the process will pave the way for an outcome that contributes to a stronger, more effective, and responsive United Nations,”
The Ministry clarified that this is a goodwill response, not a final vote commitment, but a positive assessment of the candidacy.
Why the Controversy with Turkiye?
The issue sparked a media campaign in Turkiye. Azerbaijan was accused of supporting the UAE candidate instead of Turkiye’s expected candidate, Feridun Sinirlioğlu, former Foreign Minister and current Secretary-General of the OSCE.
According to analysis published by APA, the Azerbaijani state news agency:”Unlike Türkiye, the UAE has officially registered its candidate and approached Azerbaijan through diplomatic channels… A goodwill response was provided through diplomatic channels to the party that made the official request.”
Key facts clarified by APA:
Turkiye has not yet officially nominated Feridun Sinirlioğlu as of October 30, 2026. There is no international registration of his candidacy nor an official request to Azerbaijan for support.
Accusing Azerbaijan of failing to support a candidacy that does not legally exist is “entirely unfounded from both legal and logical perspectives”.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s response is “fully consistent with international diplomatic etiquette”.
Turkiye Today reported that Turkiye is preparing to nominate Sinirlioğlu, but as of October 30, his name was not on the UN’s official list of candidates, while Nusseibeh was.
Broader Context
The development came amid diplomatic tension following President Ilham Aliyev’s absence from a recent summit of Turkic States in which foreign minister participated while the heads of other states were present.
Some Turkish social media linked the two events, though no official statement confirmed a direct connection.
The APA analysis titled “Another wave of anti-Azerbaijan campaign in Türkiye: Absurd accusations against Baku over UN Secretary-General post” described the accusations as “unfounded claims, slander, and insults”.
Exposure of Superiority Complex and Arrogance ?
The media in Turkiye is mostly state owned and controlled. The campaigns in this media can not be ignored as just speculations. The media has been directed from some level in the government to raise questions on Azerbaijan. The state media of Azerbaijan has termed the campaign as slander and insults only because they better know each other.
Turkiye is the largest economy as well as military power among the Turkic States with an international role. Such campaigns and allegations from Turkiye on a relatively small neighborly, brotherly country compel the observers to see it as the superiority complex and arrogance of a major state.
Azerbaijan is independent and soverign state and has the right to take decisions on her own without dictation of any country. Azerbaijan has expressed resilience with regards to Russia even, on a number of issues including Armenia and Ukraine.
Turkish desire to make the brotherly country do as per Turkish wish and will , will kill the soul of brotherhood and neighborhood. Turkiye is supposed and suggested to correct the things at her side to avoid this situation.
What are the Differences ?
OTS Summit in Ankara on 30 October 2026 showed they are not identical. Aliyev’s absence was the first time he has ever missed an OTS summit in 17 years.
Türkiye under Erdoğan increasingly uses conservative religious identity in its political language. Azerbaijan is overwhelmingly Muslim, but runs a strongly secular constitutional order built on state authority, nationalism and political independence.
Foreign policy orientation:
Türkiye is a NATO member, a much larger economy, and wants to lead the Turkic world and be a transit hub between Europe and Asia. Azerbaijan is a smaller South Caucasus state that presents itself as a pragmatic middle power, balancing Russia, the US, Israel, Türkiye and Iran, and resisting pressure even from allies.
Israel: This is the sharpest policy split. Ankara is a fierce critic of Israel over the war in Gaza. Azerbaijan has strong defence and intelligence ties with Israel, which supplied drones and weapons before and during the 2020 Karabakh war.
Armenia: Türkiye has been working to normalise relations with Armenia, but says it depends on peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Baku wants to keep full control of that process and does not want Ankara to move faster than it does.
Sovereignty vs. “big brother”
Analysts describe a long-simmering tension over Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and Ankara’s influence in Baku. Baku now wants to replace the “big brother, little brother” relationship with a wider network of partnerships.
Energy and defence still bind them: Türkiye backed Azerbaijan in the 2023 Karabakh war, and Ankara is a major buyer of Azerbaijani gas.
Why did Aliyev not attend the OTS in Ankara?
There are two explanations, and no official confirmation that one caused the other:
Official Azerbaijani explanation: Baku said it was scheduling commitments. Aliyev stayed in Baku for the closing ceremony of the FIFA U-15 football tournament. Azerbaijani media attributed his absence to scheduling commitments. He did attend that ceremony on 30 October.
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Reported political explanation:
Aliyev’s aides described the absence as a reciprocal response to Erdoğan skipping the CICA summit in Baku on 15 October. Türkiye had sent Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan instead. The absence came amid unusually public friction in October.
Headscarf dispute: Turkish officials criticised Baku’s new secular school uniform regulations that restrict headscarves. Erdoğan adviser Oktay Saral called them “unacceptable.” Baku’s ruling party warned against interference in its internal affairs. Erdoğan later removed Saral.
Persona non grata: Azerbaijan declared 31 Turkish nationals persona non grata over social media posts criticising Baku.
Israel criticism in Turkish pro-government media: Some Turkish media linked the school rules to Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel, which Baku rejected.
Erdoğan personally invited Aliyev on 21 October, and at the summit said there was “no room for separation, division or discord” in the Turkic world but Azerbaijan sent the FM only.
Conclusion
Azerbaijan’s move is procedural diplomacy, not anti-Turkiye. Baku responded to the only official request it received. It leaves the door open for Turkiye: “If Türkiye officially nominates a candidate…” the same diplomatic courtesy will apply.
This highlights how UN Secretary-General selection (2026-27) will be highly competitive, with consensus building among veto powers (US, Russia, China, UK, France) still failing after six straw polls. This shows Azerbaijan balancing its strategic partnership with Turkiye and its growing ties with the UAE.
It was not presented by either side as a break. Trade, energy and defence cooperation continue. But the absence was widely read as a calibrated signal: cultural affinity does not override national priorities, and Baku will publicly push back when it feels Ankara is commenting on its domestic affairs.
