[EVENT] Building Permanent Military Installations in South Azerbaijan

Republic of Turkey

Chief of the General Staff

[May/June 2023]

The Turkish Armed Forces will be building permanent military bases in South Azerbaijan, in accordance with our agreement with the Azerbaijani government and to better uphold our defense guarantee on the young republic.

An additional runway will be added to Urmia Airport, with the Turkish Air Force designating it 16. Ana Jet Üs Komutanlığı.

Two brigade-level land bases, both with permanent capacity designed for 5,000 troops will be built. One in Tabriz, the other in Ardabil. The construction of separate basis is to allow for Azerbaijani forces to take over facilities left behind by the Iranians.

Turkey is declining to build a naval base on the shores of the Caspian Sea, as a gesture of de-escalation to Russia. The cost of these facilities is estimated at $325 million, with the additional airstrip done in 6 months and the land bases in 8.