"Azerbaijan must be fully armed" Expert Mikhail Finkel on Baku-Tel-Aviv military cooperation

The 4th International Defence Exhibition ADEX 2022 held in Azerbaijan was a curtain raiser to a new large-scale stage of military cooperation between Baku and its partner countries. As is known, our country will conclude contracts with Türkiye and Israel for the purchase of new weapons within the defence exhibition. What will it be like and why Azerbaijan is buying armament now, is there an urgent need for that?

The specifics of military cooperation between Türkiye, Israel, and Azerbaijan is that it does not focus on a limited number of areas, but is multi-faceted and multi-purpose. It is especially valuable that the two partners not only supply their weapons but also help set up production in our country. It is clear that we are not talking about all models of the foreign military-industrial complex, but about special purpose lines adapted to the conditions of our country. At the same time, these are, as a rule, the latest developments in military technologies. Baku realises that only the most advanced weaponry can create a tangible advantage on the battlefield and force the enemy to bear significant losses. Azerbaijan's military strategy is most effective in this aspect, and it has already proved to be successful directly in the theatre of combat operations during the 44-day war, where the legendary Turkish "Bayraktars" and the latest Israeli weapons were used. In particular, Israeli defence systems like kamikaze drones, or as they are called, the bouncing ammunition - Harop, Orbiter-1K, and Sky Striker, which crushed the Armenian tanks and air defence were extremely effective. No less dangerous for the enemy was the firepower of the Lora operational-tactical missile system, an anti-tank complex with Spike and Spike-NLOS missiles of Israeli production.

Within the framework of the 4th Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ADEX 2022 a landmark meeting was held between Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov and Mr. Yoav Har-Even, head of Israeli military company "Rafael", who arrived in our country to participate in the military exhibition. "Rafael" is one of Israel's largest manufacturers of weapons, including the Spike rocket system, which won battle glory during the 44-day war, and the Iron Dome, which protects the skies of Israeli cities. The company is currently among Israel's top four arms-exporting firms.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the importance of strengthening military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel and the contribution of our states to regional security. The sides emphasised the need for contact and mutual visits to strengthen Azerbaijani-Israeli military ties.

"Cooperation between Israeli military companies and the Azerbaijani military-industrial complex began long ago and has never been interrupted," Israeli international law expert Rabbi Mikhail Finkel said in a conversation with Caliber.Az.

Finkel considers the recent meeting of the CEO of the most powerful Israeli military concern "Rafael" with the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, where they discussed the purchase of Israeli weapons, a logical continuation of such cooperation and strengthening of what has already been achieved.

"First of all because Azerbaijan is not just a country with which Israel has diplomatic relations. I will tell you frankly, to most countries with which we have established diplomatic relations, however, Israel will not sell its most advanced weaponry, as it does in cooperation with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is not only in the league of partner countries with Israel but also in that of trusted friends to whom we are ready to sell our best and latest military developments," the expert said.

There are many reasons for that, in his opinion. It is the amazing connection that Heydar Aliyev and his son, President Ilham Aliyev, established with the Israeli people, in particular his friendly relations with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and the continuation of that friendship with other Israeli prime ministers.

"It is also the unique cooperation that unites Azerbaijan and Israel in the fight against international terrorism, it is the excellent cooperation of our armies and intelligence services. It is also the extent to which we help each other, moreover so discretely and secretly that most countries do not know or only guess about it," Finkel added.

Speaking on the essence of the talks between "Rafael" and the Minister of Defence Industry of Azerbaijan Madat Guliyev, the Israeli expert stressed that the matter concerns both the weapons that were already delivered to Azerbaijan and some new developments.

"I know for certain that new projects are already being discussed by the sides, and these are weapons that have no analogues in the NATO countries, the most advanced countries do not have them," the Israeli political analyst said.

Therefore, in his words, Azerbaijan correctly relies on the Israeli high-tech arms, which have proven themselves not only at test ranges but also in real combat conditions.

Such weapons, according to Finkel, are used in Lebanon, Syria, and many countries of the Middle East, and are a weapon of retaliation, punishing terrorists who shed the blood of innocent people.

"These weapons are unprecedentedly accurate and powerful," our interlocutor claims.

Why would Israel supply them to Azerbaijan now? As the expert noted, according to information from certain sources, the situation is developing so that the partially frozen conflict in Karabakh could erupt again at any time.

"Of course, it is not the fault of Azerbaijan, but the fault of the Armenian authorities and those neighbours of Azerbaijan who are instigating this conflict," he stressed.

Therefore, according to Finkel, Azerbaijan must be ready and fully prepared. Namely, Azerbaijan's systematic preparation for the 44-day war was the key to its victory, the proof of its total superiority over the enemy in the field of armaments.

"It should be the same today - if the Armenian authorities and the separatists unleash the conflict, Azerbaijan should be confident of its multiple qualitative and quantitative superiority over the enemy. Especially since the situation in Karabakh is complex and tense, with people continuing to be killed and injured there. Therefore there is nothing new here. But unfortunately, we foresee that the war could erupt any day now," he concluded.