ISLAMABAD/BAKU/ANKARA– The Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, recently hosted Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and his delegation in Azerbaijan, signaling strong steps in bilateral naval cooperation. During the visit, the two leaders paid homage to Azerbaijani martyrs at the Alley of Shehids and discussed plans for joint naval exercises aimed at elevating professionalism across both navies .
Admiral Ashraf highlighted his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s warm reception and emphasized that this engagement will significantly enhance naval cooperation between the two nations .
This exchange builds upon deepening military collaboration among Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. In May 2025, the leaders of the three nations—Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, İlham Aliyev, and Shehbaz Sharif—met at the trilateral summit in Lachin to formalize a three-way strategic partnership encompassing defense, counterterrorism, energy, transportation, and trade .
President Erdoğan announced plans to institutionalize cooperation across multiple domains including the defense industry, while Aliyev publicly endorsed stronger defense collaboration as key to regional stability . This evolving alliance has already showcased strategic depth—Azerbaijan’s acquisition of JF-17 Block III fighter jets from Pakistan, integrating technologies from Turkey’s ASELSAN, is a prime example of trilateral industrial synergy .
Naval Capacity Building: With the recent visit and discussions, Pakistan is poised to formally initiate training and joint exercises with the Azerbaijani Navy, marking the first step toward a structured maritime partnership.
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Defense-Industrial Integration: There is growing consideration for a broader pact involving Türkiye, where Azerbaijan provides investment and operational support, Pakistan brings engineering expertise (e.g., from its JF-17 program), and Türkiye leads system integration and final production (e.g., KAAN fighter project) .
Political and Military Solidarity: Reinforcing this trilateral axis, Erdoğan underlined the role of the defense collaboration in promoting regional stability during the Lachin summit .
Together, these developments reflect a coordinated move toward institutionalized defense solidarity between Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. If sustained and formalized through joint agreements and defense frameworks, this trilateral dynamic could redefine strategic alignments from South Asia to the Caucasus—binding the three nations through shared capabilities, interoperability, and geopolitical vision.