Azerbaijan hosts Saudi staff chief to bolster defence cooperation

Azerbaijan's Minister of Defence, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, recently hosted a delegation led by General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, the Chief of General Staff of Saudi Arabia, during their official visit to Azerbaijan.

Minister Hasanov warmly welcomed the Saudi guests and expressed his pleasure in having them in the country, Caliber.Az reports via Defence Ministry.

The Minister highlighted the strong, friendly, and brotherly relations between Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underscoring that Azerbaijan's leadership is committed to the continuous development of these ties. He also noted that strengthening these bonds remains a priority for the nation.

General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, in turn, thanked the Azerbaijani side for their hospitality and expressed his satisfaction with the visit. He emphasized that such exchanges play a crucial role in enhancing military cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting centred on discussing the current status and future prospects for collaboration in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields. Both sides engaged in a detailed exchange of views on regional security issues.

During an official ceremony at the General Staff, following a ceremonial march in front of the guard of honour, the national anthems of both nations were played, and the Book of Honour was signed in accordance with diplomatic protocol.

Subsequently, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, Azerbaijan's First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, met with the Saudi delegation. The two sides expressed confidence that their cooperation, based on mutual trust and support, would continue to grow. They also discussed the importance of sharing military experience and explored further opportunities for expanding cooperation.

As part of the visit, the delegation was given a detailed briefing on the reforms undertaken within the Azerbaijan Army under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Saudi representatives were informed about the innovations introduced in the Azerbaijani military, the victorious Patriotic War, and other successful operations carried out by the army.

The Saudi delegation also received comprehensive information about Azerbaijan’s military control points, with their queries answered by Azerbaijani officials.

By Aghakazim Guliyev