By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have completed the Power of Unity-2026 military exercise after more than 3,500 personnel and 130 unmanned aerial vehicles trained across sites in the Karabakh economic region, Nakhchivan, Baku and the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry spokesman said the exercise also involved armored vehicles, artillery, aircraft, air defense, electronic warfare and naval assets.
The exercise ran from September 21 to October 1. Türkiye's Ministry of National Defense said its purpose was to prepare the three militaries for joint operations against hybrid threats. Turkish General Staff personnel and elements of the Land, Naval and Air Forces participated.
Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Baku and the Caspian
The original three-stage plan centered on the Gizilgaya Training Center in the Karabakh economic region, the Garabaghlar Training Center in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and the Boyuk Zira training area in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Training later also extended to Garaheybat near Baku.
The three militaries practiced command and control, precision artillery fire, helicopter insertions and armored maneuvers. Troops also cleared minefields, operated in built-up areas and used anti-tank weapons against simulated armored targets.
Final-day demonstrations included border protection, maritime operations, counter-UAV activity, hostage rescue, mine clearance, medical evacuation and helicopter landing operations.
Azerbaijani officials said the exercise was the first of this scale to include areas brought under Baku's control after the 2020 war. The official releases did not describe Power of Unity-2026 as the first-ever trilateral exercise involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Cyber teams under one command
Military cyber teams from the three countries worked under a unified command structure during the exercise.
The scenario included defending military information and communications systems against simulated cyberattacks. Electronic warfare, electronic intelligence, radar and air defense units operated alongside conventional forces.
Nine countries sent observers to the exercise: Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Serbia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Georgia, Turkmenistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Türkiye sends senior military command
Türkiye's Defense Minister Yaşar Güler attended Distinguished Visitors Day with Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov and Uzbekistan's Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov.
Güler was accompanied by Chief of General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Naval Forces Commander Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Land Forces Commander Gen. Metin Tokel and Air Forces Commander Gen. Rafet Dalkıran.
Güler invoked the maxim, "If you want peace, prepare for war."
"We have no choice but to say, 'Prepare for war,' given the developments in our region. We will prepare in the best possible way, but we will live in peace."
The three defense ministers were also shown weapons, ammunition and military technologies used during the exercise.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan sign 2027 military plan
Hasanov and Khalmukhamedov signed a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2027 on September 30 after talks covering military cooperation, military education and military-technical ties.
Power of Unity-2026 ended on October 1 after training that began on September 21.
Sources: Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense, Türkiye's Ministry of National Defense, Uzbekistan Ministry of Defense, AZƏRTAC, Bosphorus News review and reporting.