Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held their first trilateral meeting on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana. They discussed various cooperation issues, including defense and the defense industry, according to the website of the President of Azerbaijan.
"The sides exchanged views on the prospects for the development of trade and economic ties in the trilateral format, cooperation in innovation, energy, agriculture, humanitarian, and other spheres. The increasing dynamics of trade and economic ties was noted as a positive fact, while the importance of aligning them with the full potential of the three countries was emphasized. The meeting touched upon issues of cooperation in the field of defense and defense industry," the report states.
The leaders highlighted the significance of the "Three Brothers" exercises held in 2021, which involved special forces units from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan. "It was proposed to continue holding regular joint exercises of the armed forces of the three countries. The proposal was accepted with satisfaction," the report adds.
Additionally, the creation of joint production facilities in the defense industry by the three countries was discussed.
"Concern was expressed over the policy of militarization in the South Caucasus by extra-regional states," the report emphasized.
The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan expressed confidence that trilateral meetings would become regular from now on.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on TASS materials