Turkey, Azerbaijan leaders vow unity after tensions

Shusha, Azerbaijan Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev vowed on Sunday (November 8, 2026) that their countries' alliance would remain solid, in a show of unity aimed at overcoming a public rift between the close neighbours. Tensions flared in September, when Baku revised school uniform regulations to prohibit clothing deemed incompatible with secular education, effectively barring Islamic headscarves in classrooms.

Azerbaijan slams ally Israel’s recognition of Armenian genocide Azerbaijan slams ally Israel’s recognition of Armenian genocide Azerbaijan and Israel are allies but Baku's closest foreign partner is Turkey and the Caucasus country hinted the move by Israel could hit their bilateral relations Azerbaijan slams ally Israel’s recognition of Armenian genocide storyline 1 Mr. Erdogan's government has dismantled restrictions on hijabs in Turkey.

Azerbaijan's move sparked protests at home and drew criticism from Mr. Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).