Because of Israel? The rift between Turkey and its strategic partner deepens

Tensions between Turkey and Azerbaijan are escalating: Azerbaijani President Aliyev refrained from attending a regional summit in Turkey, amid Turkish criticism of Azerbaijan's ban on hijabs in schools and its warm ties with Israel. Erdogan tried to ease tensions in a conversation with Aliyev and by firing an aide.

Tensions between Turkey and Azerbaijan, strategic partners, are escalating: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev refrained from attending a regional summit in Turkey, sparking speculation about a deepening rift between Baku and Ankara. Azerbaijan was represented at the summit by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. According to Azerbaijani media, Aliyev's absence was due to prior commitments, but other assessments suggest it indicates cooling relations. The tensions arose following Turkish criticism of Azerbaijan's ban on wearing hijabs in schools and its warm ties with Israel. In an attempt to ease tensions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Aliyev and personally invited him to the summit. It was also reported that Erdogan fired an aide perceived in Azerbaijan as an anti-Azerbaijani figure. Following the hijab ban, small protests took place outside Azerbaijani missions in Turkey, and Azerbaijan banned 30 Turkish citizens from entering its territory. At the regional conference, Erdogan said: "A rift among Turkic-speaking countries is impossible."