Azerbaijan increases spending on defence, national security

Azerbaijan has increased the total amount allocated for defence and national security in its state budget to 8 billion 555 million manats, according to Azerbaijan's Finance Minister Samir Sharifov.

Sharifov announced this during the third reading of the draft law on the "State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2025" in the Milli Majlis (Parliament), Caliber.Az reports via local media.

To recap, Azerbaijan's military spending has surged, a trend that began after the 44-day war with Armenia in 2020. The conflict, stemming from long-standing tensions over Karabakh, prompted major reforms within Azerbaijan's military, focusing on modernization and advanced weaponry. 

The dispute dates back to the early 1990s, when Armenia occupied 20% of Azerbaijani territory. Following a renewed war in September 2020, Azerbaijan regained key territories and secured a ceasefire agreement in November.

Since then, Azerbaijan has bolstered its forces, including training commando units in Türkiye, which played a crucial role in neutralizing illegal Armenian forces in Karabakh during 2023 operations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev