Page 10 - ADEX 2024 - DAY 2

OPINION

THREE BROTHERS

Azerbaijan, Turkey and

Pakistan trilateral co-operation

has a lot of potential

By Dr Vasif Huseynov

On July 3, 2024, Ilham Aliyev, President of the three parliamentary speakers after
of Azerbaijan, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, their first meeting in Baku vowed to build
President of Türkiye, and Shahbaz Sharif, lasting tripartite cooperation between their
Prime Minister of Pakistan, came together parliaments and was more explicit than the
in their first trilateral summit in Astana, earlier trilateral declaration of the foreign countries agree that this falls short of the
Kazakhstan. The summit, held on the side- ministers (2017) in its support of the ter- real potential, and they must take more
lines of the 24th Meeting of the Council of ritorial integrity of the three countries. The steps to strengthen economic bonds. Baku
Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation declaration expressed support to Azerbaijan and Islamabad are expected to finalize the
Organization (SCO), marked a significant in its efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate the Preferential Trade Agreement soon, which
milestone in the growing cooperation among liberated Karabakh territories; to Pakistan in includes tax and customs privileges on 15
the three countries. It underscored an ele- its conflict over Jammu and Kashmir, call- or more products and services. It is expect-
vation of the trilateral format in their coop- ing for a resolution in accordance with the ed that as a result of these privileges, the
eration from the existing parliamentary and respective United Nations Security Council trade turnover between the two countries
ministerial levels to the state leadership and resolutions; and to Türkiye in the settlement will exceed $40 million in the next 2-3 years.
as such highlighted their interest in deeper of the disputes in Cyprus, the Aegean and
collaboration in various spheres, including the Eastern Mediterranean, on the basis of
economy and military. international law. One of the key highlights was the discussion
on the Middle Corridor initiative, which is
crucial for enhancing trade routes and eco-
The historical and cultural bonds between The leaders’ meeting in Astana highlighted nomic integration across the region. This
Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan are these connections and underlined the im- corridor, which passes through Azerbaijan
well-rooted. These fraternal ties, grounded portance of further deepening their bonds. and Türkiye, offers a strategic route con-
in shared cultural, historical, and religious They expressed a commitment to regular necting Asia and Europe. The commitment
values, have been a foundation for their high-level meetings and continued support to developing this corridor underscores
partnership and proved to be important in for each other within various platforms the strategic economic importance of the
critical moments. In 2017, the three coun- and international organisations. The three trilateral cooperation, promising new oppor-
tries made a move to launch a trilateral leaders stressed the importance of broader tunities for trade, investment, and economic
format for cooperation and consultations initiatives to bring their nations closer and growth. At the trilateral summit, Pakistan’s
concerning common challenges and op- proposed some steps towards this purpose. participation in the Middle Corridor was
portunities. In November of that year, they discussed and its potential to contribute
laid the groundwork for this format with Economic cooperation was a central theme to the promotion of economic and trade
Azerbaijan’s then-foreign minister Elmar of the trilateral discussions at the summit. relations between the countries involved
Mammadyarov hosting a trilateral meeting The leaders emphasized the need to boost was stressed.
with his counterparts Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu trade and economic relations, recognizing
of Türkiye and Khawaja Muhammad Asif the significant potential for collaboration
of Pakistan. The three countries boosted in various sectors, including innovation, Furthermore, defence collaboration featured
the trilateral cooperation in the wake of energy, agriculture, and education. The trade prominently in the summit. The leaders dis-
Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the Second relations between Pakistan and its Turkic cussed the importance of regular joint mil-
Karabakh War (2020) during which Baku partners are positively affected by their itary exercises to strengthen their defence
received significant political support from commitments for deeper ties. capabilities. The success of the “Three
Ankara and Islamabad. Brothers” military exercises held in 2021
was cited as a model for future collabora-
Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with Pakistan tions. These exercises not only enhanced
In July 2021, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and reached a record level of 28 million USD in military readiness but also fostered greater
Pakistan established another dimension 2022, while Türkiye’s trade with this coun- understanding and interoperability among
of the trilateral cooperation by launching try also marked a record growth reach- the armed forces of the three nations. The
the parliamentary format. The declaration ing 1.3 billion USD in that year. All three

10 SEPTEMBER-25-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS