Erdogan's Veto on Kurdish Uprising Raises Questions About Azerbaijan's Role

Turkey's veto of any Kurdish uprising in Iranian Kurdistan is treated as a foregone conclusion, sparking debate over whether a concurrent rebellion in Iranian Azerbaijan could push Erdogan's tolerance to its limits, especially if the United States and Israel activate Iran's minority fronts. The piece points to a growing strategic partnership between Turkish-speaking Azerbaijan and Turkey, which could allow Ankara to expand its reach into the Caucasus and Central Asia for the first time since the Soviet Union's collapse.

Azerbaijan's geopolitical advantage lies in its simultaneous opposition to Tehran and alliance with Israel, positioning Baku as a mediator between Turkey and Tel Aviv. Both Turkey and Israel previously backed Azerbaijani leader Aliyev during the conflict with Armenia that reclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh. The article also references the Iran-Iraq war, noting the absence of large-scale minority uprisings then, and suggests Erdogan's internal Kurdish policy may not translate into real tolerance for external Kurdish movements. Finally, it reflects on shifting US Middle East policy since the 1970s and its impact on regional power balances.