Turkish expert: Türkiye–Azerbaijan energy cooperation is moving political partnership to an institutional level

The new long-term gas agreement signed between Türkiye and Azerbaijan is not only about energy supply – it shows that the strategic alliance formed along the Ankara–Baku axis has now entered an irreversible and institutional phase.

International relations expert Mehmet Emir Aksoy told The Daily Baku while commenting on the new gas supply agreement signed between Türkiye and Azerbaijan based on the Absheron field.

According to the expert, this agreement carries more political and geopolitical significance than a classical energy contract:

“The agreement, which envisages the supply of a total of 33 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas to Türkiye from 2029 for a period of 15 years at 2.25 billion cubic meters annually, not only strengthens Türkiye’s energy security, but also confirms that the strategic destiny formed along the Ankara–Baku line over many years has now taken on an institutional character.”

Mehmet Emir Aksoy emphasized that the gas to be obtained from the Absheron field represents the next stage of the far-sighted energy diplomacy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. In his view, Baku successfully uses its energy resources not only as a source of economic income, but also as a geopolitical balancing tool at the regional and global levels.

“The process that began with the TANAP, TAP and Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan projects is today acquiring new strategic depth through the long-term gas supply to Türkiye from the Absheron field,” the expert stressed.

According to him, for Türkiye this agreement means not only energy supply, but also the expansion of opportunities for geopolitical independence. Against the backdrop of instability in global energy markets, the energy crisis that emerged in Europe after the Russia–Ukraine war, and ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, establishing a long-term energy corridor with a friendly and allied country has become a strategic necessity.

“In this context, Azerbaijan is not merely a supplier, but acts as a reliable and long-term strategic partner,” Mehmet Emir Aksoy said.

In his opinion, it would be wrong to assess this agreement simply as a technical document signed between two countries. The key point is that the long-voiced political slogan “two states, one nation” is now transforming into concrete state policy and strategic infrastructure.

The expert noted that integration developing in parallel in the fields of energy, defense, transportation, and diplomacy is turning the Türkiye–Azerbaijan axis into a regional power center. In particular, in the post-Karabakh war period, the balanced yet decisive foreign policy of President Ilham Aliyev has enabled Azerbaijan to become not only a military, but also an energy and diplomatic game-shaping actor.

Mehmet Emir Aksoy believes that this long-term gas agreement also demonstrates the formation of a new Türkiye–Azerbaijan-centered geopolitical axis in the South Caucasus and that this axis is already assuming a sustainable character.

“In the future, this cooperation will not be limited only to gas supply. Türkiye’s goal of becoming a regional energy hub will be further strengthened, while Azerbaijan will further consolidate its indispensable position within the architecture of European and Eurasian energy security,” the expert added.