Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan conducted their first joint military exercise together, bringing thousands of troops to the Hojavend district in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region under the banner "Power of Unity, 2026." Iran participated as an observer, along with other nations.
The trilateral drill marks a deepening of military coordination among the three nations. Turkey and Azerbaijan maintain a long-standing alliance, including military ties that intensified following Azerbaijan's 2020 war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Uzbekistan's participation signals Central Asian involvement in regional security frameworks centered on the South Caucasus.
The exercise took place in Hojavend, a district reclaimed by Azerbaijan during the 2020 conflict and now a contested region under a ceasefire agreement. The choice of location underscores the strategic importance the three nations place on the territory and their broader regional posture.
Iran's observer status reflects the complex geopolitical environment in the region. Iran shares borders with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, making developments in the South Caucasus relevant to Tehran's security interests, though the Iranian government has expressed concerns about increased military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey.
No specific details about the exercise's scale, duration or stated objectives were provided in available reports. The drill demonstrates growing coordination among regional actors and suggests a shift toward institutionalized military partnerships among Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan that extends beyond bilateral arrangements. Such exercises typically include joint command structures, combined arms operations and interoperability testing among participating forces.