Armenian defence minister reaffirms military’s role in protecting sovereignty

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has reaffirmed that Armenia’s armed forces will be used solely for defensive purposes, emphasizing the military’s role in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Papikyan underlined that the deployment of the country’s military power will remain strictly limited to protecting Armenia’s borders and ensuring its national security, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“Armenia will use its armed forces and army for one purpose only — to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia,” he stated.

Addressing parliamentary inquiries during a government question-and-answer session on November 12, Papikyan noted that since 2023, Armenia has undertaken unprecedented defence spending, markedly enhancing the nation’s military capabilities across multiple domains, including operational readiness, the welfare of service members, engineering infrastructure, and the acquisition of weaponry and military equipment.

Armenia's 2026 state budget allocates 560 billion drams ($1.46 billion) to the defence sector, reflecting a reduction of approximately 16% compared to the previous year’s allocation.

By Vafa Guliyeva