Türkiye's South Caucasus Policy and Nakhchivan in the Period From January 1920 to the Sovietization of Azerbaijan

The period from January 1920 to the Sovietization of Azerbaijan marked a crucial phase in Turkiye’s South Caucasus policy, particularly concerning Nakhchivan. This study examines Turkey’s evolving policy toward Nakhchivan and the South Caucasus by analyzing the shifting priorities of the Ottoman government and the Turkish Nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha. Methodologically, the study relies on historical analysis, utilizing primary and secondary sources, including archival documents, diplomatic correspondence, and contemporary accounts. The study also applies a geopolitical lens to evaluate Turkiye’s pragmatic alignment with Bolshevik Russia and its diplomatic maneuvers in the Moscow and Kars negotiations. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of Turkey’s South Caucasus policy during a transformative historical juncture. It demonstrates how Turkey balanced its regional ambitions with geopolitical pragmatism, navigating the dual imperatives of securing support from Soviet Russia while maintaining influence over Nakhchivan. The findings hold contemporary relevance in assessing Turkey’s enduring strategic interests in the South Caucasus and its historical approach to regional geopolitics.