Azerbaijan, Italy keen on expanding military cooperation

On June 7, Deputy Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, Head of the Main Directorate of Military-Technical Support Agil Gurbanov, who is on a visit to Italy, met with Minister of Defense of this country Guido Crosetto.

At the meeting, which was also attended by the Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subkhan Bekirov, a detailed exchange of views took place on the prospects for the development of military, military-technical cooperation, and interaction in the field of military education between Azerbaijan and Italy, as well as on a number of issues representing mutual interest, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan.

In conclusion, the importance of mutual visits in the development of relations based on strategic partnership between the two countries was emphasized.

Defence cooperation is one of the areas of mutual interest between Azerbaijan and Italy.

Italian defence manufacturer Leonardo has been a permanent participant in the ADEX defence exhibitions held in Baku.

Back in 2018, the Regional Sales Director of Leonardo for the Commonwealth of the Independent States (CIS) region, Francesco Molinari, said that negotiations have been underway with the Azerbaijani Air Force on the purchase of M-346 training combat aircraft produced by the company.

Meanwhile, during his visit to Munich on February 18, 2017, President Ilham Aliyev met with Mauro Moretti, former CEO and General Manager of Leonardo. During the meeting, ideas were exchanged on the expansion of cooperation. Eight months later, President Aliyev received a delegation led by Moretti's successor Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo.