Pillar of independence and guarantee of peace An Army tempered by Victory

Armed Forces Day is a celebration that unites all Azerbaijanis, regardless of where they live, their political views, or their age. Because it is about the Azerbaijani army — a force that instils fear in the enemies of our state and protects our homeland, the peace of our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters.

The independence of our republic and its sovereignty directly depend on the strength and combat capability of our Armed Forces. It was precisely the absence of a strong army and competent centralised command that led to the occupation of 20% of our country’s territory by Armenia. This became a national tragedy, from which the right conclusions were drawn.

After returning to the leadership of Azerbaijan in June 1993, the national leader of our people, Heydar Aliyev, who clearly understood that solving all the country’s problems and challenges required a strong economy, domestic political stability, and a combat-ready, well-organised army, set these issues as priorities of domestic policy. Thanks to the wise strategy of the great leader, the Armed Forces subordinated to a unified command were established in a short time, and the material and technical base of the Armed Forces was strengthened, equipping them with modern weapons.

By the decree of President Heydar Aliyev dated May 22, 1998, June 26 — the day when the first military unit was established by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic — was declared Armed Forces Day. Since then, this day has been celebrated every year in our country as the holiday of the National Army. This act reflected the highest political culture and was a tribute by the national leader to the memory of the founding fathers of the ADR, which could serve as an example for many politicians today in various countries around the world.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has continued the work of the national leader, and today our Armed Forces rightfully stand among the strongest armies in the world.

As a result of successful reforms carried out on the initiative and under the leadership of the Head of State and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, our army’s arsenal has been replenished with the most modern weapons and equipment. This was vividly demonstrated at the solemn parade held on June 26, 2018, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Azerbaijan Republic. Hundreds of units of armored vehicles, numerous patrol and military ships, air defense systems, military aircraft and helicopters, reconnaissance and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), artillery installations, long-range missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, and operational-tactical missile complexes meeting the highest standards — all of this took one’s breath away, evoked an incredible feeling of pride in our army, and inspired confidence in its readiness to successfully accomplish any assigned tasks.

However, the whole world—and most importantly, Armenia itself—was convinced of this during the April 2016 clashes, which ended in the defeat of an enemy that had prematurely believed in its “invincibility.” At that time, the Azerbaijani army took control of a number of strategically important heights. The victory in those battles demonstrated that our Armed Forces are capable of accomplishing all the tasks set before them, which ultimately happened.

In the autumn of 2020, the international community witnessed how our army, day by day liberating one settlement after another, restored the territorial integrity of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan, demonstrating unparalleled heroism, combat training, and readiness for a new generation of warfare—where a crucial role was assigned to UAVs and special forces.

The Armenian occupiers were not prepared for such a war, as evidenced by the fact that over 11,000 deserters appeared among their ranks. Meanwhile, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers advanced, destroying enemy fortifications that had taken decades to build and reinforce.

Azerbaijan achieved a historic Victory in the 44-day war, the climax of which was the operation to liberate the city of Shusha. Our army, overcoming the most difficult mountainous terrain, acted boldly and unconventionally. The Armenian side believed that an assault on Shusha was impossible — the city is located on an almost vertical cliff, and all approaches to it were heavily fortified. However, it was precisely through these steep gorges and forests that Azerbaijani special forces advanced.

Without heavy equipment, travelling light, our warriors covered dozens of kilometres over rough terrain, sometimes in conditions close to zero visibility, to suddenly attack enemy positions. The street fighting in Shusha became a true test of endurance — every house, every elevation turned into a battlefield. Despite fierce resistance, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers, many of whom became martyrs, pushed the enemy out of the city, demonstrating iron will and courage.

And on November 8, 2020, in his address to the people of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev declared: “Shusha, which was under occupation for twenty-eight and a half years, has been liberated! Shusha is free now! We have returned to Shusha! We have won this historic victory on the battlefield. 8 November 2020 will forever remain in the history of Azerbaijan. This history will live forever. This is the day of our glorious victory!”

With the loss of this city, the Armenian side was forced to agree to capitulation. In the early hours of November 10, 2020, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the Trilateral Statement, which marked Armenia’s defeat in the Second Karabakh War.

However, despite numerous warnings from official Baku, Yerevan continued to provide political, financial, and military support to the Karabakh separatists. For this reason, in the autumn of 2023, our army carried out a one-day anti-terrorist operation in the Karabakh region and cleared the city of Khankendi of the remnants of separatist forces. Thus, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan were fully restored, and today the unique operational experience of the Azerbaijani army is being studied in leading military academies around the world.

The Azerbaijani people honour the memory of the martyrs who gave their lives for the Motherland with deep reverence, and treat those who fought in the First Karabakh War and the 44-day War with immense respect and gratitude.

We owe a debt to those who are guarding our peace at this very moment with weapons in hand. And we are filled with pride for our highly professional Armed Forces. This is what our fathers and grandfathers dreamed of — and what future generations will take pride in.