MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE SECOND KARABAKH WAR: AZERBAIJAN’S STRATEGY, RUSSIA’S STANCE AND TÜRKİYE’S ROLE

The Second Karabakh War marked a significant turning point in the geopolitics of the South Caucasus, highlighting the evolution of military strategies and the mutual interactions of regional powers. This article analyzes Azerbaijan’s military strategy, Türkiye’s role, and Russia’s stance in the context of the Second Karabakh War. As a result of the war, Azerbaijan re-established its sovereignty over its internationally recognized territories, leading to a new geopolitical reality in the South Caucasus. The article examines the war’s military, diplomatic, and political aspects, evaluating the impact of technology and regional powers in modern conflicts. Additionally, it analyzes Azerbaijan’s strategic planning to restore territorial integrity since the 2000s and explores its effective use of modern warfare tools, including unmanned aerial vehicles and high-precision weapon systems. This success was made possible through tight military cooperation and the highly coordinated implementation of modern military thought. In this process, Türkiye’s active involvement in military training, technical equipment, and strategic consultancy significantly contributed to Azerbaijan’s operational efficiency. On the other hand, Russia sought to maintain a balanced stance during the conflict but ultimately played the role of the primary mediator in ending the war. While Russia did not openly defend Armenia, it emphasized its alliance with Armenia within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) framework. The Second Karabakh War unfolded with Azerbaijan’s successful military strategy, Türkiye’s support, and Russia’s balanced position. Azerbaijan’s victory reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus and created new realities. This research also examines the war’s military, diplomatic, and political dimensions within a scientific methodology, contributing to the study of modern conflict management, regional power policies, and sovereignty issues within the framework of international law. The article also emphasizes that the Second Karabakh War will have long-term effects on regional security dynamics and that regional alliances and power balances will be reshaped. In this context, Azerbaijan’s victory has created significant opportunities not only in military terms but also diplomatically and economically.