Armenia

Armenian Defense Minister Discusses Military Reform and Uniform Development with US Officials

On December 3, Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, led a working visit to the United States. On December 4, within the framework of his visit, Minister Papikyan met with Mr. Bruce LaFlam, Vice President of the American company Milliken & Company, and Mr. Scott J. Grupp and Mr. Tommy Young, Directors of the company's military and international programs, at the Armenian Embassy in the United States. The discussions focused on potential cooperation in developing a new uniform for the Armenian Armed Forces, including uniform types, development processes, delivery timelines, and other necessary program implementation procedures.

On December 5, Minister Papikyan met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Pentagon, where the national anthems of Armenia and the United States were performed. Minister Papikyan expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and outlined ongoing reforms within the Armenian Armed Forces. He highlighted key areas of cooperation aimed at transforming the Armenian Armed Forces and enhancing interoperability with the US Armed Forces, including military education, combat training, joint exercises for international peacekeeping missions, development of the NCO and instructor corps, and the establishment of educational and training capabilities for the Armenian military.

Secretary Austin welcomed Minister Papikyan and emphasized the historic significance of the visit. The two officials discussed issues related to Armenia-US defense cooperation. Secretary Austin affirmed US support for Armenia’s independence, sovereignty, and prosperity. He also emphasized continued US support for the reforms within the Armenian Armed Forces. The meeting addressed international and regional security issues, with Minister Papikyan reaffirming Armenia’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the region. Secretary Austin expressed US support for this objective.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Turkey Discuss Military Cooperation, Regional Security, and Joint Exercises

On December 3, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, welcomed a delegation led by Colonel General Yaşar Kadıoğlu, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Department of the Armed Forces of Turkey, who was on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Colonel General Hasanov expressed satisfaction with the visit and emphasized the ongoing development of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, highlighting the significance of the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting. He also briefed the Turkish delegation on the successful reforms in army development following Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day Patriotic War under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

In response, Colonel General Kadıoğlu noted the importance of ongoing joint exercises in promoting mutual experience exchange. The two sides also discussed the future prospects of military cooperation and regional security issues.

Later that day, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with the Turkish delegation. They emphasized the need for further meetings to expand military cooperation and discussed the importance of increasing joint exercises to enhance the professionalism of servicemen from both countries.

Also on December 3, Major General Gunduz Abdulov, the Rector of the National Defense University, met with a Turkish delegation led by Professor Cenk Aktaş, the Chairman of the Defense Industry Academy of the Presidency of Defense Industries of Turkey. The delegation received a briefing on the history, education system, and activities of the National Defense University, focusing on successful reforms in military education within the Azerbaijan Army. Both sides exchanged views on military education and emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation and implementing joint projects in this field.

Azerbaijan and NATO Strengthen Cooperation with Visits to Military Institutions and Training Courses

On December 3, within the framework of the “15th NATO Days” held under the Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme with NATO, Agil Gurbanov, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan and Director General, met with a delegation led by Rear Admiral Gunnstein Bruåsdal, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Partnerships Directorate at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), who was visiting Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, both sides commended the current state of their relations and exchanged views on the further development of these ties. The participation of Azerbaijani servicemen in the NATO Operational Capability Concept (OCC) and other programs was also praised. The significance of experience exchange between servicemen and their continued participation in exercises and courses for self-development was highlighted. The prospects for further enhancing bilateral relations and addressing issues of mutual interest were discussed.

On December 5, as part of the "15th NATO Days" visit, the NATO delegation visited several military educational institutions and one of the military units in Azerbaijan. First, they toured the Military Institute named after Heydar Aliyev, where they were briefed on the institute's activities, education programs, and international cooperation efforts. They then visited the War Games Center of the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University, where they observed a training course conducted by the Mobile Training Team of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum. The delegation also visited a military unit of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, where they received a briefing on its history and activities. The successful development of Azerbaijan-NATO relations, reforms in the Azerbaijan Army, and other mutual interests were discussed. The delegation concluded their visit by observing combat training sessions of the Maritime Interdiction Operations Boarding Party, which is part of the NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Programme.

On December 6, as part of the 2024 Individual Partnership Cooperation Programme, the “Training and Exercise in NATO” course was held in Baku, conducted by the Mobile Training Team of the NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum. The course, organized at the War Games Center of the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University, focused on planning and conducting NATO exercises at the operational and tactical levels. At the end of the course, a briefing was presented on the completed tasks and objectives, emphasizing the importance of such courses in expanding Azerbaijan-NATO military cooperation.

Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia Discuss Regional Security and Military Education in High-Level Meeting

On December 3, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, met with a military delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, Colonel General Hasanov welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction with their visit. The Minister noted the significance of Saudi Arabia's participation with an expanded delegation at the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX), held from September 24–26, 2024, at the Baku Expo Center.

Colonel General Hasanov informed the delegation about the ongoing demining efforts in territories liberated after the victory in the Second Karabakh War and expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia's support in this matter. He mentioned that, out of 382 civilians and servicemen injured by mine explosions after the war, 70 had lost their lives. The Minister also wished success to the participants of the Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Saudi Arabia trilateral working meeting on intelligence hosted in Baku.

The discussion then focused on the prospects for further cooperation in military and military education and regional security issues.

Following this, the delegation visited the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, where Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with the guests. 

Local Exercise

On December 5, a subsequent command-staff exercise was conducted, where the participating units were deployed to the training areas on alert. The exercise focused on evaluating their maneuver capabilities and the operational command and control skills of the commanders and staff under simulated operational conditions. During the exercise, which was held under conditions mimicking real combat, the rocket and artillery units successfully destroyed the imaginary enemy's designated and unforeseen targets through targeted fire. All tasks set in the command-staff exercise were completed.

Georgia

No important information was published by the Georgian side during this period.