Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan join forces in major military exercise

Mass drone attacks, cyberattacks, disinformation and attempts to seize a vessel were among the simulations that Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan's troops rehearsed for the first time together in Azerbaijan over the past few days, designating the current threats that the military forces of these countries are facing in the current geopolitical shifts.

More than 3,500 troops from the three countries took part in the “Power of Unity-2026” exercise, held for the first time in the Hojavend district of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler highlighted the need for military readiness saying “we will prepare in the best possible way, but we will live in peace,” hailing the success of the exercise “in both its planning and execution”.

The simulated training ranged from drone warfare and electronic attacks to border incidents and operations at sea in a new approach to military preparedness.

In the Qızılqaya military training area troops used more than 130 unmanned vehicles, alongside over 70 armoured vehicles, more than 90 artillery systems and over 20 aviation assets.

Drones featured heavily in the training as a sign of evolving warfare, with troops training to repel drone swarm attacks, strikes on advancing military columns, surveillance and the delivery of ammunition and supplies.

The drills combined unmanned systems with artillery, armoured vehicles, aviation and electronic warfare. Troops also practised breaching defensive positions and anti-tank trenches, clearing minefields and advancing with armoured vehicles.

Beyond the conventional battlefield

The training also focused on the new challenges that have not been part of traditional military scenarios until now.

Troops responded to simulated cyberattacks and online disinformation, carried out operations against "terrorist" positions in mountainous terrain, practised clearing settlements and setting up checkpoints.

Training also involved using drones to detect and stop attempted border crossings.

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, said the exercise included land, naval and air operations which help raise the combat readiness of the participating armies.

Uzbekistan’s Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov, said the participating personnel had demonstrated “high combat readiness” and the ability to carry out missions together.

From the border to the Caspian Sea

The scenarios extended beyond land operations, into the Caspian Sea, with forces practising freeing a vessel and an offshore facility, rescuing hostages and landing on the ground to neutralise a simulated terrorist base.

This exercise was held at training areas in Baku, the Karabakh region, Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan’s part of the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan and Turkey describe their defence relationship as an alliance under the 2021 Shusha Declaration. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have also expanded cooperation in military, defence-technology and military education.

Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Iran, attended the exercise as observers.

From Qızılqaya to Shusha

The military exercise was followed by a trilateral meeting of the defence ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia in Shusha.

Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Türkiye’s National Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani took part in the 13th trilateral defence meeting, which focused on military cooperation, regional security and trilateral ties.

Hasanov described Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey cooperation as “an important platform for regional stability, security, and development”.