Gaza War Strains Turkey-Azerbaijan Alliance as Aliyev Distances from Ankara

The Gaza conflict has exposed divergent interests between Turkey and Azerbaijan, with Ankara's open opposition to Israel clashing with Baku's pragmatic ties to Israel. Azerbaijani President Aliyev has publicly noted that Turkey's stance has not helped and emphasized that Baku purchased its weapons with its own money, signaling a rift. This marks a notable shift in the traditionally close Turkey-Azerbaijan relationship, with implications for regional alignments in the South Caucasus and Middle East.