First contact after headscarf tension: Erdoğan goes to Karabakh

AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Karabakh on November 8, 2026, upon the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The decision to visit came after the tension between the two countries following the headscarf debate in Azerbaijan.

Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran announced in his statement on his social media account that Erdoğan will visit Karabakh on November 8, 2026 (tomorrow).

Duran used the following statements in his statement:

"Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will visit Karabakh on November 8, 2026, in response to the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev."

THERE WAS TENSION ON THE ANKARA-BAKU LINE

The decision to visit came in the shadow of the tension that emerged between Ankara and Baku following the headscarf debate in Azerbaijan.

Following the discussion, AKP members, especially former Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral, made harsh statements against the Azerbaijani administration. While the Azerbaijani administration banned some people from entering the country, Saral was dismissed from his post after the reactions.

During the period of tension, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev did not attend the Organization of Turkic States Summit held in Ankara. Additionally, an article published in the APA news agency, known for its closeness to Aliyev, included serious accusations against the AKP government.

Erdoğan had previously stated to reporters on his return from South Korea that he planned to visit Azerbaijan on November 8.