Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan discuss regional security, stability, peace challenges at ministerial meeting

Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi hosted an annual tripartite defence ministerial meeting on Tuesday between Georgia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, where officials addressed the security environment in the region, challenges to peace, and joint efforts in ensuring stability.

The meeting involved Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani, Minister of National Defence of Turkey Yaşar Güler, and Azerbaijani Defence Minister General Zakir Hasanov.

The Georgian Ministry said the parties underscored the importance of the trilateral cooperation format in bolstering security and stability in the region, with Chikovani asserting Georgia's readiness to contribute to the process of promoting peace and “constructive” cooperation in the South Caucasus.

They also highlighted ongoing reforms in the defence sector and future plans, highlighting the positive dynamic of cooperation at strategic and operational levels, while noting that joint exercises, expert-level meetings, and tripartite courses served to deepen connections between military personnel of the countries and increase their interoperability.

At the end of the meeting, the ministers signed a tripartite ministerial protocol and made joint statements. Chikovani also held bilateral meetings with his Azerbaijani and Turkish counterparts.

This year marked the 11th edition of the meeting, with Georgia serving as the current host.