Turkey and Azerbaijan have submitted a joint nomination to UNESCO seeking intangible cultural heritage status for baklava, announcing the bid shortly before the NATO summit in Ankara. The timing is intended to highlight the close ties between the two states as they host senior defence and energy officials at the summit.

Baklava and its regional variants

Baklava is a pastry made of thin filo sheets filled with pistachios or walnuts and sweetened with honey or sugar syrup. It is a staple across the Balkans, the Middle East and the Caucasus, with each country preparing its own version of the dessert.

Political motivations behind the nomination

Both Baku and Ankara present the UNESCO bid as evidence of their "one nation, two states" partnership, a relationship that already includes joint military drills, energy projects and a coordinated culinary diplomacy effort. Officials argue that a UNESCO label would reinforce their defence, energy and trade cooperation by raising the profile of a shared cultural symbol.

Greek opposition and broader disputes

Greece has voiced strong criticism of the joint nomination, warning that it could marginalise Greek culinary heritage. In January 2025 Greek members of the European Parliament lodged a request asserting Greek origins for baklava and highlighting the risk of the Azerbaijani‑Turkish bid eclipsing Greece’s claim. At the same time a restaurant in Thessaloniki sought UNESCO recognition for the soup patsa as a Greek dish, a claim that Turkish media contested by citing the 17th‑century traveller Evliya Çelebi.

Competing historical narratives

Turkish scholars maintain that the modern form of baklava originated in Ottoman Istanbul, while Greek historians trace the dessert back to the Byzantine period. The dispute echoes earlier heritage battles: in 2013 the European Commission granted a protected geographical indication to "Antep Baklavası", linking the name to Gaziantep in Turkey, and UNESCO’s 2014 listing of Armenian lavash prompted protests from Azerbaijan before the body recognised the flatbread as shared heritage in 2016. A similar pattern emerged when UNESCO inscribed dolma as an element of Azerbaijani cultural identity in 2018, a decision opposed by Armenia.

Gastronationalism and symbolic value

Scholars describe the use of food heritage for national identity and diplomatic leverage as "gastronationalism". A heritage anthropologist from the French National Centre for Scientific Research has argued that such nominations are primarily symbolic, serving as a low‑cost method for gaining visibility and prestige rather than delivering material benefits.

Potential economic impact

Should UNESCO approve the baklava nomination, demand for pistachios, walnuts and high‑quality honey is likely to rise. Producers in Turkey’s Gaziantep region and Azerbaijan’s Ganja province could see higher ingredient prices, while culinary schools and chefs may experience increased enrolments as tourists seek authentic experiences. Although UNESCO listings do not provide direct funding or enforce protection against imitation, the prestige of the label can boost tourism and stimulate related industries.

UNESCO’s decision process

The next UNESCO session, scheduled for December 2025, will assess whether the baklava nomination meets the criteria for intangible cultural heritage. The outcome will determine whether the dessert receives the UNESCO label or remains a point of contention among neighbouring states.

Official statements

Turkish officials have framed the nomination as part of a broader "Turkey brand" strategy, coordinating with top chefs to feature baklava on the NATO summit menu. Azerbaijani authorities describe the bid as a celebration of the deep historical ties that bind their peoples through food. The Greek Ministry of Culture has warned that appropriating shared culinary heritage undermines the cooperative spirit that UNESCO seeks to promote.

The debate over baklava thus illustrates how cultural symbols are mobilised in contemporary diplomatic contests, with the forthcoming UNESCO decision poised to influence both regional relations and the economics of a beloved dessert.