Armenia

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan Hosts French Delegation to Boost Bilateral Relations

On April 23, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported that Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, hosted a meeting with Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, the Chairman of the France-Armenia Friendship Group of the French Senate. Also in attendance was Olivier Decottignies, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Armenia.

The discussions were centered on enhancing Armenia-France bilateral relations, particularly in the defense sector. The meeting also covered regional security concerns and the significant reforms currently being implemented in the Armenian Armed Forces.

Armenia and Czech Republic Forge New Paths in Military-Technical Cooperation

On April 22, Konderlová Radka, the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, led a delegation to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia. The delegation also included representatives from several Czech military-industrial companies.

During their meeting with Karen Brutyan, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Armenia, discussions focused on the current progress and future development opportunities in military-technical cooperation between Armenia and the Czech Republic. The meeting concluded with several agreements being reached.

Armenian Defense Minister Welcomes New Head of Council of Europe Office in Yerevan

On April 25, Suren Papikyan hosted Maxime Longangué, the newly appointed Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan. Minister Papikyan congratulated Mr. Longangué on his new role and wished him success.

The meeting agenda included discussions on the "Strengthening of Human Rights in the Armed Forces of Armenia" program, which the Council of Europe office in Yerevan implemented. This initiative aims to enhance human rights awareness within the Armed Forces, foster educational and institutional reforms in the defense department, improve educational opportunities for female servicemembers, align servicemembers' conduct with international standards, and ensure the effective execution of measures from the Human Rights Defender (HRD) strategy.

Both parties underscored the significance of ongoing cooperation, maintaining and building upon the results achieved thus far. They also explored potential new avenues for further collaboration.

Armenian Defense Delegation Secures New Agreements in Italy to Boost Military Cooperation

From April 23 to 25, Karen Brutyan, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, led a delegation on a working visit to the Republic of Italy. During this visit, the delegation met with high-level officials, including Luciano Portolano, the Secretary General of Defence-National Armaments Director of the Ministry of Defence; Matteo Perego di Cremnago, the Undersecretary of State for Defence; and Giuseppe Cossiga, the President of AIAD of the Italian Republic, as well as representatives from various military-industrial companies.

These meetings focused on enhancing military, military-technical, and military-technological cooperation between Armenia and Italy. The discussions were fruitful, culminating in the establishment of several agreements that promise to strengthen bilateral relations in these areas.

Armenian Military Police Investigate Video of Uniformed Participation in Political Action

On April 26, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia reported that a video had surfaced online showing individuals in military uniform participating in a political action in Kirants, Tavush region. In response, the military police have initiated efforts to identify the individuals in military uniforms and to assess the information depicted in the video.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Defense issued a warning against any attempts to draw the Armenian armed forces into political processes, stating that such actions would be subject to legal evaluation.

Azerbaijan

Local and international exercises

From April 22 to April 27, the Azerbaijan Army engaged in multiple military exercises to enhance its servicemen's combat readiness and professionalism across various units.

On April 22, Air Defense Units conducted a live-fire tactical exercise focusing on the operational use of the Igla-S man-portable anti-aircraft missile system. Before commencing the live firing, servicemen were briefed on safety protocols, the exercise's objectives, and shooting conditions. The exercise was successful, with crews effectively bringing the missile system to combat readiness and neutralizing air targets posed by an imaginary enemy.

The Naval Forces and the Ministry of Emergency Situations collaborated in a joint tactical exercise named Wave-2024 from April 24 to April 26 in the territorial waters of the Caspian Sea. This exercise aimed to enhance joint operational capabilities, improve command proficiency, and ensure effective unit management. The exercise concluded successfully with the execution of complex tasks, including fire localization, search and rescue operations, and diving inspections, all of which demonstrated high professionalism.

Continuing with the emphasis on readiness, military units were mobilized from their permanent stations to assembly areas on April 25. The leadership of the Ministry of Defense, including Minister of Defense Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, monitored the progress of these command-staff exercises at the Combined-Arms Training Center. Colonel General Hasanov inspected a command and control post set up in field conditions, evaluated the exercises positively, and issued directives to improve combat training quality.

Simultaneously, on April 27, Azerbaijani Naval Forces servicemen participated in international seamanship competitions in Livorno, Italy. Their activities included meetings with the command of the Italian Naval Academy and the mayor of Livorno and participation in a ceremonial parade and a flag handover ceremony marking the start of the competition.

Additionally, on April 27, Azerbaijani servicemen began participating in the Efes – 2024 multinational exercise in Istanbul and Izmir, Türkiye. This large-scale exercise involves 1567 participants from 49 countries and includes both computer-assisted command-staff and live-fire stages. The Efes – 2024 exercise will continue until May 30, highlighting Azerbaijan's commitment to international military cooperation and readiness.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan Bolster Military Ties During High-Level Defense Meetings

From April 25 to 26, the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted an official visit by Lieutenant General Sultan Kamaletdinov, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, expressed his pleasure at hosting the delegation. He stressed the need to strengthen the fraternal and friendly military relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The Kazakh delegation was briefed on the reforms being carried out in the Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Lieutenant General Kamaletdinov thanked the hosts for their hospitality and highlighted the significance of such meetings for enhancing military cooperation. Discussions during the meetings focused on various aspects of military collaboration, including military-technical, military-educational, and other related fields.

Further interactions included a meeting with Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army. The discussions addressed the current state and future prospects of military cooperation, the importance of joint exercises, and an exchange of views on various mutual interests.

The visit continued on April 26, with the Kazakh delegation touring the Central Command Post of the Air Force and the Center for War Games at the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University. They received detailed briefings on these institutions' operations and capabilities.

Additionally, as part of the Bilateral Cooperation Plan for 2024, specialized meetings were conducted on topics such as military medicine, cybersecurity, information warfare, professional military training, ideological work, and moral-psychological support. These meetings took place at various strategic facilities, including the Medical Department of the Defense Ministry, the Cybersecurity Hub of the General Staff, and the Training and Educational Center of the Azerbaijan Army.

The Kazakh delegation also visited key medical and educational institutions such as the Main Clinical Hospital, the Central Dental Clinic, the Forensic-Medical Expertise and Pathological Anatomy Center, the Military Medical Faculty, the Cybersecurity Hub of the General Staff, and the Military Publishing House of the Defense Ministry.

The visit concluded with the Kazakh delegation presenting an award to Colonel Zaur Karimov, the military attache of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the medal "For contribution to the development of international cooperation," acknowledging the strengthening of military ties between the two nations.

Closure Ceremony Marks End of Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center in Aghdam

On April 26, a solemn ceremony marked the closure of the Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center located in the Aghdam region. The event was attended by top military officials from Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia, as well as the ambassadors of Turkey and Russia to Azerbaijan, along with servicemen and media representatives. The national anthems of the three countries were performed at the start of the ceremony.

Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Levent Ergün, Chief of Staff of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of the Turkish Republic, and Colonel General Sergey Istrakov, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, delivered speeches during the ceremony.

The officials discussed the operations of the Joint Monitoring Center, which was established under a Memorandum signed between Türkiye and the Russian Federation on November 11, 2020. They expressed gratitude to the Turkish and Russian military personnel for their dedicated and valorous service in fostering peace and stability in the region since the center's inauguration on January 30, 2021, and extended best wishes for their future endeavors.

It was also noted that the process of the complete withdrawal of the Russian Federation's peacekeeping contingent, which had been temporarily deployed in the Karabakh economic region of the Republic of Azerbaijan as per the trilateral agreement signed on November 10, 2020, by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia, had commenced ahead of schedule. This early withdrawal followed a joint decision by the leaders of Azerbaijan and Russia.

The ceremony concluded with performances by the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Army Ideological and Cultural Center, named after Hazi Aslanov, and the military orchestra of the Military Institute, named after Heydar Aliyev, providing an artistic end to the proceedings.

Pakistani Air Force Academy Delegation Visits Azerbaijan's National Defense University

On April 27, a delegation from the Military Academy of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and a group of its listeners visited the National Defense University of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. The visit began with a speech highlighting Azerbaijan's significant achievements in the 44-day Patriotic War and emphasizing the nation's recent victories.

Following the introductory remarks, the Pakistani guests were informed about the latest technological innovations and military education reforms implemented under the directives of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

The delegation received comprehensive briefings on the history, educational system, teaching methodology, and scientific activities of the National Defense University. Additionally, their inquiries regarding various aspects of the university were addressed.

The visit facilitated a productive exchange of views on several topics of mutual interest concerning military education, underscoring the ongoing collaboration and shared objectives between the two countries in defense education.

Georgia

Meeting with Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Latvia and Lithuania

On April 22, Irakli Chikovani, the Georgian Defense Minister, met with Faig Guliev, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia. The discussion centered on the two countries' strategic partnership and friendly relations. Minister Chikovani reiterated Georgia's commitment to aiding the establishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus and highlighted the positive impact of high-level visits between the nations. Additionally, they explored opportunities for deepening bilateral defense cooperation, including joint participation in international military drills and enhancing military education.

Subsequently, on April 24, Minister Chikovani met with Edite Medne, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to Georgia. They discussed the cooperation framework between the defense ministries of the two countries. Minister Chikovani expressed gratitude for Latvia's support through the EU monitoring mission and financial contributions under the European peace mechanism. The discussion also covered Latvia’s involvement in implementing initiatives under the NATO-Georgia essential package and the active engagement of Latvian soldiers in international training exercises held in Georgia, alongside cooperation in military education.

On the same day, Minister Chikovani convened with Andrius Kalindra, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Georgia. The meeting emphasized the multifaceted defense cooperation between Georgia and Lithuania, focusing on the financial support provided by EU member states, including Lithuania, and cooperation under the common security and defense policy. Minister Chikovani thanked Ambassador Kalindra for Lithuania's participation in the EU observation mission and acknowledged Lithuania’s contributions to the NATO-Georgia essential package. Their discussions also touched on successful bilateral cooperation in cyber-defense, National Guard development, military education, and joint participation in international exercises, underscoring the robust partnership between the two nations.