Azerbaijan – 2025: strength, allies, technology Military power + strong economy

The military parade in Baku on November 8 has already drawn global attention and will continue to be discussed by military experts, politicians, and journalists for a long time. Today, we won’t revisit the detailed breakdown of what was displayed at the parade—we have already done that shortly after the event.

Equally important, it seems to me, is to provide a different assessment of the overall combat readiness and capability of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces compared to that glorious period when the historic victory in the 44-day Patriotic War was achieved. To begin, it is worth noting that Azerbaijan’s 2026 state budget allocates 8.7 billion manats ($5.11 billion) to defence and national security—an increase of 3.8% over 2025. Undoubtedly, such spending is only feasible for a country with a strong and stable economy.

Today, Azerbaijan truly represents a rare example of a country where financial stability has become a key factor in strengthening political sovereignty and national security. Consider this: Azerbaijan’s external debt is among the lowest in the world, amounting to just over 6% of GDP. This is an unprecedented figure even by the standards of developed economies. While many countries, including leading Western powers, face massive government borrowing and difficulties in servicing debt, Azerbaijan maintains strict financial discipline.

Besides, Azerbaijan’s foreign exchange reserves exceed $80 billion, 16 times the size of its external debt. This means that Baku could fully eliminate its debt obligations if necessary—a capability possessed by only a very limited number of states. It is precisely this economic power that allows our country to spend significantly in strengthening its army.

It is also worth recalling that last week, Last week, President Ilham Aliyev received a NATO delegation, where he highlighted that the Azerbaijani army is being aligned with NATO standards and cooperates closely with the Turkish military. He also emphasised that Azerbaijan’s modernisation efforts will continue, reflecting the growing strategic importance of relations with the alliance. It is important to note that Azerbaijan has long earned the respect of NATO member states, despite not seeking full membership. I would add that Azerbaijan has long earned the respect and appreciation of NATO member states despite not being an alliance member and not seeking full membership.

It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that, at present, the Azerbaijani army already surpasses the armies of several NATO member countries—particularly in terms of equipment, real combat experience, command organisation, and firepower. The strength of our army is based on a combination of precision weapons, unmanned systems, intelligence networks, and a modern assault component. It is no coincidence that the Azerbaijani army received high praise from various military experts and centres following the 44-day war in 2020 and the 2023 counter-terrorism operation.

Now, after the military parade in Baku, everyone has seen that the Azerbaijani army has become even stronger, more combat-ready, and better equipped. The participation of Pakistani and Turkish troops was also a very clear message to the entire world. The mere fact that Azerbaijan has such militarily powerful allies is a cold shower for those contemplating military provocations against our country. But there was much more at the parade.

Everyone saw that our country is armed with the HQ-9BE air defence system—a modern export version of China’s HQ-9 system, designed to intercept a wide range of aerial targets, including aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air-to-ground missiles. This fact demonstrates that Azerbaijani-Chinese relations have reached a qualitatively new, strategic level of cooperation—something extremely important not only politically but also militarily.

Finally, the parade showcased numerous samples of the most modern weapons acquired by Azerbaijan from NATO member states. In addition, our army is equipped with the best that the defence industries of Türkiye, Israel, and Pakistan produce. At the same time, Azerbaijan’s own defence industry has also reached a very high level of production for modern weapons and military equipment, some of the newest examples of which were also displayed at the parade.

Yes, any objective military expert, after analysing what was seen at this parade, would conclude that Azerbaijan is protected from the air, sea, and land. This is a very clear message to those who still entertain thoughts of military provocations against our country. Forget it! Our country has already reached a level where it is useless even to attempt to use threats or blackmail in dialogue with it. We are a victorious country, shaping a new reality in the South Caucasus region.