On September 23, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the first session of the seventh convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament, noting that Azerbaijan's “complete restoration of sovereignty following the Second Karabakh War and recent anti-terror operations” has created “new opportunities and horizons for the country.”

He emphasized that the 30 years of occupation are now behind them, and Azerbaijan has embarked on large-scale reconstruction and development efforts with tangible results. "In the past 3-4 years, our international standing has strengthened significantly. We have been able to gain worldwide acceptance of the outcomes of the Second Karabakh War and the anti-terror operation," President Aliyev stated.

Addressing challenges, Aliyev highlighted the importance of increasing Azerbaijan's military strength, calling it the number one priority. He pointed out that while the Second Karabakh War and the “anti-terror operations” are in the past, global developments, the emergence of new conflicts, rising tensions, and "Armenia’s revanchist tendencies" require continuous attention to military readiness. "If we decrease our focus on the military field and do not provide sufficient funds, we may encounter problems in the future," he noted. He also pointed out that the restoration of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur remains a significant challenge.

President Aliyev further emphasized the external threats Azerbaijan faces, claiming that “foreign circles that cannot accept Azerbaijan’s victory” are developing new plans against the country. "This is the purpose of the media campaign, slander, denigration, and smear campaigns," Aliyev said, warning that Azerbaijan must stay vigilant against such efforts. He added, "The government of Azerbaijan knows this, and the public must know this too. Therefore, we cannot afford to be complacent in any way."

The President also spoke about rising revanchist forces in Armenia, claiming that not only marginal political elements but also the current Armenian leadership harbor illusions about reversing the results of the Second Karabakh War. "Although they may publicly express otherwise, their actions, policies, and steps paint a completely different picture," Aliyev emphasized, criticizing the formal maintenance of the Minsk Group, which he views as irrelevant.

In terms of military capabilities, Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan has significantly increased its military power since the Second Karabakh War, creating new armed formations and multiplying the number of special forces. "New special units and command forces have been established, and their numbers will continue to grow year after year," he added, emphasizing that Azerbaijan's combat readiness and supply of military equipment are at the necessary levels and will continue to improve. "Armenia and any country behind it must know that it is impossible to speak to us in the language of blackmail and ultimatums," Aliyev warned, stressing Azerbaijan’s preparedness to respond to any threats.

Regarding military industry developments, the President revealed that large-scale modernization works are underway in all of Azerbaijan’s military plants, with new equipment, weapons, and ammunition being produced. He mentioned that the establishment of new production facilities with several foreign partners has entered the practical phase, and within the next year or two, Azerbaijan’s military-industrial complex will expand further. "Azerbaijan exports products of the military-industrial complex to dozens of countries, and this geographical reach is expanding year by year," he noted.

Aliyev also addressed the need to strengthen the conditional border, warning of potential provocations from Armenia, which is reportedly arming itself extensively and conducting military exercises with foreign powers. "Western countries are sending weapons and ammunition to Armenia," Aliyev stated, asserting that some Western countries are using Armenia as a tool to exert pressure on Azerbaijan and its neighbors for their interests.

Reflecting on Azerbaijan’s security measures, Aliyev pointed out that the closure of land borders in recent years has protected the country from major disasters. "Even today, when the borders are closed, dangerous actions do take place, and these actions are prevented," he said, underlining the importance of maintaining border security to safeguard against external risks. He also noted that Azerbaijan enjoys internal stability, with peace and security maintained for many years, which, according to Aliyev, can serve as an example to the world. "Our stability is the main condition for security, development, and attracting foreign investment," he stressed.

Aliyev also spoke about ongoing ideological provocations against Azerbaijan, though he stated that they have not been successful due to the strong will and national spirit of the Azerbaijani people. "But this should not make us complacent," he warned, calling for continued readiness to expose "dirty games" played against Azerbaijan. "The people of Azerbaijan see everything perfectly well, know everything perfectly well—who is our friend and who is our enemy," he remarked.

President Aliyev emphasized the country's independent and principled stance in discussing Azerbaijan's foreign policy. He stated that Azerbaijan has never interfered in the affairs of others but has always responded to those attempting to interfere on its own. "There are and will be such attempts," he acknowledged, though he downplayed their significance. He stressed that Azerbaijan will continue to pursue bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect but will not tolerate any country dictating terms or defaming Azerbaijan. "This will not happen," Aliyev concluded.