A diplomat is someone who can read between the lines and understand what they see, not just a looker.
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
The language of diplomacy is, to say the least, strange. Almost never anything is said or written explicitly. In diplomacy, the most common written communication texts, which are referred to as "Note verbal", although written, are written in such a style that even the declaration of war note is broken out of politeness. When asked about the polite tone of the British note declaring war on Japan, Churchill's response: "If you have to kill someone, being polite won't cost you anything" is the best explanation for this. What is important in diplomatic communication is to be able to read between the lines of what is written and said because the purpose is hidden there.
STATEMENTS OF İLHAM ALIYEV
The speech made by Azerbaijani President Aliyev a few days ago is full of messages to Turkey, but Turkey's name is not mentioned anywhere. Aliyev briefly said, "The Karabakh success is ours. We bought the weapons we used with our own money. They even sold these weapons to us at a higher price than what they sold to others," meaning "Turkey should not try to claim too much of Azerbaijan's Karabakh success." It is Erdoğan who said. The words "Azerbaijan will form its foreign policy in a way that no one can interfere" and "No one should interfere with our way of life... Serious measures are being taken against ideological risks and will continue to be taken" seem to be a reaction to the criticisms voiced in Turkey against Azerbaijan's relations with Israel and the ban on clothes that do not comply with the principle of secularism in schools.
TRUMP'S WORDS
During his novice (!) period, with his rowdy attitude, he said to Erdoğan on the day Turkey's Peace Spring Operation started, "Don't forget the priest. I will destroy your economy. Don't be foolish!" Even Trump, who wrote a letter saying, has started to get used to the language of diplomacy. Even though from time to time he still gets rude and indiscreet and says whatever comes to his mind, for example, "He knows best how to cheat in the election!" Even though he says that, he cannot praise Erdoğan lately. "He is a very good friend of mine. He does whatever I say!" he says. In the language of diplomacy, this expression means, "I tell him what to do. He does it." Erdoğan's lack of reaction to Trump, in the face of President Aliyev's words that only Azerbaijan will decide his country's foreign and domestic policy, is even more striking.
NOT LOOKING, BUT SEEING
Speaking of Trump, it may be useful to look at a photo that includes the USA.
A few days ago, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus held "66th Independence Day of the Republic of Cyprus" ceremonies in Nicosia. The Republic of Cyprus, which was liberated from British colonial rule in 1960 and established as an independent state with the London and Zurich Agreements, of which Turkey was a party and guarantor, collapsed in 1974 due to the attempt of Greece, one of the other two guarantor states, to annex Cyprus, and there are currently two separate states on the island. However, it is not a strange sight for a state to celebrate the day it gained independence and hold a military ceremony. However, the situation is different for those who can see the purpose of the photograph.
At the ceremony watched by the British and Greek Chiefs of Staff, Greek Defense Minister Dendias described Cyprus as "the gain of Hellenism"; Military units of Turkey's ally (!) USA, England, France and even Egypt attended this ceremony, where he accused the Turkish Armed Forces, who have ensured peace and stability in Cyprus since 1974 and prevented the massacre of Turkish Cypriots by the Greeks, of being "invaders"; Parade of heavy weapons purchased from the USA, F-16 warplanes and Israeli air defense weapons, whose range includes the southern coast of Turkey; Most importantly, Turkey's silence and unresponsiveness to this development and its failure to bring this incident to the agenda with its allies show what the photo tells. This ceremony is a clear message of defiance to Turkey in every aspect.
The Republic of Türkiye has never been so underestimated or ignored in any period of its history. Those who put Turkey in this situation even against Azerbaijan should be ashamed.
