Security is perhaps the defining factor for the effectiveness of both domestic and international strategies of almost all existing states. Given the trends we observe in the world, it is hard to argue with this statement.
In fact, President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized in his speeches that in a changing world the factor of power has already come to the forefront. Of course, the availability of domestic resources is the main factor in ensuring stability and security. However, as current practice shows, this is far from sufficient to guarantee resilience and consistency in this process. Security requires the pooling of the capabilities of all allies. In this regard, as in economic relations, it is necessary to constantly increase the number of parties interested in joint development. Only the shared interest of countries in ensuring common security can serve as a guarantee of effectiveness and risk minimization. And in cases where we are talking about regional security, the integration of efforts becomes practically a mandatory condition.
It is precisely in this context that we should view the meeting of the security bodies of the Turkic states held on 14 November in the city of Khankendi on the theme “The role of special services in ensuring the security of international transport routes.” Naturally, for obvious reasons, we cannot know the details of this event. Intelligence and security officers are not public figures who are constantly in the spotlight and live in a “glass house.” It is precisely the existence of normal conditions for free public life that is the direct result of the effective work of the security services. Nevertheless, if the very fact of holding such an event has been made public, this means that the event itself is a certain message — and a serious one.
Undoubtedly, holding such a meeting is evidence of coordinated work among the state security bodies of allied countries. This is the first significant message of the event. There is no doubt that this message will be taken into account by those countries that have their own geopolitical interests in the region. From now on, ensuring the security of the vast area in which the countries of the Turkic world are located becomes the task of the entire Turkic world.
Moreover, this event clearly shows that the Turkic world possesses all the necessary capacities to ensure security, and that the countries of this world are acting in a consolidated manner on this issue. In other words, the very fact of holding such a meeting indicates that it will no longer be possible to apply the classical geopolitical tactic of “divide and rule” to the united Turkic world.
When speaking about the messages conveyed, it is essential to pay particular attention to the place chosen for this event. For almost three decades, the occupied territory was a real threat to the entire region. As a result of the occupation, the uncontrolled territory of Karabakh effectively turned into a “significant” link in international drug trafficking and a “nest” of terrorism. Naturally, such a territory could not be included in international logistics routes, and Karabakh could certainly not have been part of global economic projects. Only Azerbaijan’s Victory, which brought peace to our region, made it possible to implement global transport routes.
Therefore, this event also sends the message that the Turkic world acts as a guarantor of the security of all transport and communication lines that pass through this territory. The geographical position of the Turkic states along key transport networks is, without doubt, a weighty argument in favor of strengthening cooperation between the countries of the Turkic world. In this way, the Turkic world is shaping the distinct geopolitical status of the entire region.
Furthermore, cooperation among the state security bodies of the Turkic states is a guarantee of the safe operation of international transport and communication lines and contributes to blocking potential sources of international terrorism. Thanks to this initiative, Azerbaijan once again acts as a guarantor of peace. Our country has not only brought peace to the region but is also initiating trends that will help preserve this peace for future generations. It is appropriate here to recall the words of President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan: “Victorious Azerbaijan will also become the architect of peace in its region.”
Of course, for our country, the main political message of this event can be seen in the special status afforded to the Zangezur Corridor. Together with its allies and partners, Azerbaijan has made it clear through this meeting that the united Turkic world will respond adequately to any attempts to obstruct the implementation of the Zangezur Corridor. From now on, the Zangezur Corridor is included in the list of strategic interests not only of Azerbaijan and our region, but of the entire Turkic world.
Asif Adil
Translated from minval.az
