Minister: UK working with Azerbaijan, Armenia to support peace in South Caucasus

The United Kingdom has reinforced its partnerships with Armenia and Azerbaijan following a visit by Defence Minister Lord Vernon Coaker to both countries this week. 

The engagements focused on regional security, defence cooperation, and long-term stability in the South Caucasus, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK government.

"As the threats we face increase, our partnerships are becoming more important than ever. The UK is working with Azerbaijan and Armenia to support peace and prosperity in the South Caucasus," the Minister said.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, Lord Coaker met with President Ilham Aliyev, Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, and Minister of Defence Industry Vugar Mustafayev. Discussions centred on expanding defence and security collaboration between the two countries.

Lord Coaker also attended the graduation ceremony of a British Military Training Course at the Azerbaijan Army Training and Education Centre, a programme conducted jointly with Czech instructors as part of the UK’s "Defence Train the Trainer" initiative.

In addition, he visited the Alley of Martyrs and the Commonwealth War Memorial, paying respects to those who died during Black January in 1990 and in the First Karabakh War (1988–1994).

In Armenia, Lord Coaker officially opened the UK’s first permanent Defence Section in Yerevan, signalling the UK’s long-term commitment to supporting Armenia’s defence capabilities. Meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Defence Minister Suren Papikyan focused on deepening defence cooperation and supporting ongoing reforms and modernisation efforts within the Armenian Armed Forces.

By Aghakazim Guliyev