Herzog's Flight Over Turkey Sparks Ankara-Baku Diplomatic Crisis

A diplomatic spat has erupted between Turkey and Azerbaijan, exacerbated by Israeli President Itzhak Herzog's recent flight through Turkish airspace en route to Baku. Herzog traveled on an Azerbaijan Airlines Boeing 787 named "Shusha" on a regular flight, which crossed Turkish territory despite Ankara's existing restrictions on Israeli government aircraft. This incident has highlighted significant rifts between the two traditionally close allies, often described as "one nation, two states."

According to Middle East Eye, an unnamed Turkish source claimed Azerbaijan did not pre-notify Ankara of the Israeli president's presence on the flight, though Turkish authorities do not receive passenger manifests for all aircraft. The flight's route sparked criticism in Turkish media and social networks, with some viewing Baku's actions as a deliberate disregard for Ankara's stance on Israel. Turkish commentator Adnan Hasanoglu strongly criticized Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decision, calling it an open political stance against Turkey incompatible with fraternal relations.

Beyond the presidential flight, other factors are straining Turkish-Azerbaijani ties. Protests have occurred in Azerbaijan since late September against school dress codes that effectively restrict hijab use, leading to detentions. Turkish ruling party officials, including advisor Oktay Serel, publicly opposed these restrictions, but Baku accused Turkish politicians of interfering in its internal affairs, with the ruling "Yeni Azerbaijan" party labeling the criticism as political manipulation.

Further complicating matters, on October 17, Azerbaijan's prosecutor's office opened a criminal case against Turkish journalist Jalal Chipchi for alleged calls for violent government overthrow via social media. A court issued an arrest warrant, and Baku requested Turkish assistance. This adds a law enforcement cooperation issue to the political disagreements.

Despite the public friction, leaders from both Turkey and Azerbaijan are working to prevent further deterioration. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with President Aliyev in Baku on October 16, emphasizing the paramount importance of their strategic partnership. Kursad Zorlu, deputy chairman of Turkey's ruling party, also advocated for resolving differences internally, likening the situation to resolving issues "within the family."