Possible trilateral cooperation in the defense industry between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Ukraine has recently become one of the prominent topics on the international agenda. The messages conveyed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this direction have intensified discussions about the areas of cooperation, the complementary capabilities of the parties, and its possible impact on regional security architecture. According to experts, it is not only about arms production but also about combining technologies, combat experience, and defense industry potential dictated by modern warfare.
In a statement to Modern.az, Ukrainian political scientist Stanislav Jelikhovsky stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky's idea most likely refers not to a specific large defense project, but to areas of cooperation where the advantages of Ukraine, Turkey, and Azerbaijan complement each other:
“Ukraine has gained unique experience in the application of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, anti-drone technologies, and rapid innovations on the battlefield in wartime conditions. Turkey, on the other hand, has become one of the world's leading countries in the production of unmanned systems, high-precision weapons, and modern defense technologies. Azerbaijan has rich operational experience gained from modern conflicts and consistently invests in the development of its defense industry. In this regard, the most promising areas for cooperation could be the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare systems, and ammunition, the modernization of armored vehicles, the digitalization of the battlefield, as well as the protection of critical infrastructure. At the same time, the mutual exchange of experience and military technologies gained from modern high-intensity wars is also of particular importance."
According to Stanislav Jelikhovsky, such cooperation will strategically strengthen the defense capabilities of all three countries and reduce their dependence on foreign arms and technology suppliers:
“This process can contribute to strengthening security both in the Black Sea basin and in the South Caucasus. Because currently, the security environment of these two regions is becoming increasingly interconnected. In the near future, it is possible to witness the implementation of practical projects rather than loud political statements. Joint production programs, technology transfer, industrial partnerships, maintenance and modernization of military equipment, as well as cooperation in military training and defense innovations are areas that can yield real results in a short period.”
Military expert Uzeyir Jafarov noted that the foundation of cooperation in the defense sector between Azerbaijan and Ukraine was laid before Russia's large-scale invasion, and these relations intensified further after the 44-day Patriotic War:
“After the Karabakh war ended, specialists from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and those working in the defense industry visited Azerbaijan to closely study our country's modern warfare experience, applied tactics, and technologies. Ukraine's extensive and effective use of unmanned aerial vehicles in recent years, as well as the rapid application of new technologies, is to some extent a result of benefiting from Azerbaijan's experience in the 2020 war. Ukraine has also made significant progress in the development of ballistic missiles in the fifth year of the war and does not hide this information.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's gratitude to Azerbaijan for humanitarian support indicates that cooperation between the two countries is not limited to humanitarian directions. Azerbaijani and Ukrainian specialists cooperate closely in the fields of defense industry, military technologies, and security, exchanging mutual experience.
Ukrainian specialists regularly visit Azerbaijan and work together with the Ministry of Defense, defense industry enterprises, and other relevant institutions. The Azerbaijani side, without hiding its knowledge and experience, shares it with its Ukrainian partners. This is true not only for Ukraine but for everyone interested in the Azerbaijani defense industry. It is not about providing weapons or military equipment, but about sharing combat experience, tactical approaches, and technological solutions. The two countries also cooperate on demining liberated territories, neutralizing unexploded ordnance, developing new reconnaissance and strike systems, protecting personnel, as well as technologies that allow for timely detection of unmanned aerial vehicle attacks."
According to the expert, the Azerbaijani side provides all necessary support to Ukraine within its capabilities:
“Ukraine shows particular interest in the defense industry potential in Azerbaijan. Not only in Baku, but also defense industry enterprises located in the regions are studied by Ukrainian specialists, and the Azerbaijani side provides all necessary support within its capabilities in areas of interest. When the Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Yuri Gusev, addresses these issues, he is received at the highest level. Currently, some weapon and ammunition samples jointly developed by Azerbaijan and Ukraine are in the testing phase. For this reason, detailed information about their technical characteristics is not provided. In addition, recommendations from Azerbaijani specialists are also taken into account during the improvement of a number of weapon systems produced by Ukraine.”
The expert believes that Azerbaijan's modern warfare experience has been of great importance for Ukraine:
“In particular, some tactical and technological approaches applied by the Azerbaijani Army in 2016 and 2020 attracted Ukraine's attention. Ukraine has also benefited from Azerbaijan's experience in the application methods of some unmanned aerial vehicles striking deep into Russia, bypassing air defense systems, and using artificial intelligence and other modern solutions to avoid the effects of electronic warfare means.
Ukraine has had a strong military-industrial complex since the Soviet era and has been able to modernize many of its enterprises with European support during the war and bring them back to full capacity. Currently, these enterprises operate in three and four shifts and produce a large volume of military products. During the talks between Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump within the framework of the NATO Summit in Ankara, the issue of exporting unmanned aerial vehicles and other military equipment produced by Ukraine to NATO countries was also discussed. Some countries have already started purchasing these products, and Ukraine is directing the revenues from production to the development of other areas of the defense industry.”
