Justice and Development Party (AKP)
The Justice and Development Party has governed Turkey since 2002 under Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Early AKP foreign policy included cautious openings toward Armenia, including the 2009 Zurich Protocols. By the 2010s, however, the party's regional posture had become more nationalist, security-driven and closely aligned with Azerbaijan under the slogan "one nation, two states."
Turkish ruling party and Azerbaijan alliance
The Justice and Development Party has governed Turkey since 2002 under Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Early AKP foreign policy included cautious openings toward Armenia, including the 2009 Zurich Protocols. By the 2010s, however, the party's regional posture had become more nationalist, security-driven and closely aligned with Azerbaijan under the slogan "one nation, two states."
The AKP deepened Turkish-Azerbaijani military cooperation before the 2020 war, including training, doctrine, drone systems and political backing. Turkey's support helped shift the regional balance and made Ankara a direct strategic participant in Azerbaijan's victory, even if Turkish troops were not the principal ground force. (sourced opinion: Broers)
After 2020 the AKP linked Armenia-Turkey normalisation to Azerbaijan's agenda, including transport through Syunik. For Armenia, that makes Turkish normalisation feel conditional on Azerbaijani pressure. For Turkey and Azerbaijan, it is presented as regional opening after occupation. This unresolved difference makes the AKP a central actor in the corridor politics now shaping the South Caucasus. contested
Events
| Year | Event | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Signing of the Zurich Protocols | leadership |