Baku welcomes six-nation special forces for high-stakes military exercise

Eternal Brotherhood – the 4th multinational joint special forces exercise officially commenced in Baku with the participation of elite units from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan.

The opening ceremony, held on September 9, was attended by the leadership of the Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

The ceremony began with Major General Alakbar Jahangirov, Commander of Azerbaijan’s Special Forces and a Patriotic War Hero, reporting to Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan, on the readiness of the participating units.

A minute of silence was observed in honor of the fallen heroes (martyrs) from the six participating nations. This was followed by the raising of national flags and the performance of the national anthems, accompanied by a military orchestra, fostering an atmosphere of unity and shared purpose.

Eternal Brotherhood- the 4th multinational joint special forces exercise includes the participation of armored vehicles, army aviation, and unmanned aerial vehicles, alongside the special forces personnel. The primary objective of the joint exercise is to exchange operational experience, enhance coordination capabilities, and develop joint mission readiness among the armed forces of friendly and allied countries.

In his address to the assembled participants, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov welcomed the delegations and expressed his appreciation for their presence in Azerbaijan. He emphasized that the continuation of Eternal Brotherhood—now in its fourth iteration—demonstrates the deepening military cooperation, trust, and fraternity among the participating nations.

The Minister noted that such exercises are strategically significant, serving not only as platforms for skill development and tactical refinement but also as cornerstones of regional security and international peacekeeping efforts. He praised the professionalism and joint efforts of the participating special forces, describing them as a powerful symbol of solidarity and defense cooperation.

Highlighting the critical role of special forces in contemporary warfare, Colonel General Hasanov stressed that the joint exercise will contribute meaningfully to the professional growth of the personnel and create new opportunities for capacity building and interoperability across national forces.

He concluded by wishing the participants success, issuing relevant instructions and recommendations aimed at ensuring the high-level execution of the exercise and promoting continued combat readiness and professionalism.

At the end of the ceremony, the Defence Minister reviewed the facilities provided for the exercise participants, reflecting Azerbaijan’s commitment to hosting a well-organized and impactful multinational training event.

During Eternal Brotherhood – the 4th multinational joint special forces exercise, participating units will undertake a range of combat training missions, including live fire drills, parachuting, sniper operations, and urban warfare exercises focused on clearing populated areas of enemy forces—further solidifying the practical and strategic value of this annual exercise.

By Vafa Guliyeva