Exploring TRNC and Azerbaijan for the First Time
President Erdogan Makes First Visits to Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan After Re-election
President Erdogan of Turkey is continuing a longstanding tradition of making his first visits abroad to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan after being re-elected. Erdogan, who won his latest presidential election in March 2023, has begun his official overseas visits with a trip to Northern Cyprus. There, he will hold discussions with President Ersin Tatar and Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, with a joint press conference expected to take place. Topics for discussion are expected to include rights and interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as matters related to the TRNC’s recognition and a two-state solution.
Following his visit to Northern Cyprus, President Erdogan will travel to Azerbaijan, where he will meet with President Ilham Aliyev. The two leaders will participate in an official ceremony before holding a private meeting. One of the main issues to be discussed is the normalization of activities in the region after the Karabakh war, with a focus on the opening of the Zengezur corridor.
It should be noted that both President Tatar of Northern Cyprus and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan attended President Erdogan’s most recent inauguration in Turkey, demonstrating the strong ties between the three nations.
This tradition of the Turkish president making his first visits abroad to Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan has been observed since Erdogan’s initial election in 2014. As such, the visits reflect the ongoing importance of these relationships to Turkey’s foreign policy and the wider region.
