Azerbaijan plans $5.2 billion in defence and security spending in 2027

Azerbaijan plans to allocate about 8.8 billion manats ($5.2 billion) to defence and national security in 2027, accounting for 21% of state budget expenditures, Prime Minister Ali Asadov said on Thursday.

The allocation will remain among the government’s main spending priorities, Asadov said at a Cabinet of Ministers meeting.

At the same time, socially oriented spending is expected to account for 44% of the 2027 state budget. Asadov said Azerbaijan had continued reforms aimed at strengthening social protection and improving living standards, including increases in social payments, pensions and salaries.

The prime minister also highlighted continuing reconstruction in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur, where authorities are creating conditions for sustainable resettlement and economic reintegration.

Since the 2020 war, the return of former internally displaced persons has been facilitated to 47 settlements, comprising 10 cities, three towns and 34 villages. More than 93,000 people now live, work and study in the territories, Asadov said.

He said the 2027 budget would also provide sufficient funding for investment projects and state programs. During 2025 and the period so far in 2026, programs were adopted covering water resources, transport, agriculture, food security and tourism.

Asadov also pointed to the State Program for the Development of the Mining and Metallurgical Industry for 2027–2030, adopted on September 22. The program is designed to develop metallurgy, expand production and export capacity, improve the competitiveness of Azerbaijan’s non-oil industry and create new jobs.

By Tamilla Hasanova