Armenia

Indian Chief Of Defence Staff Visits Armenia

On February 2, a ceremonial reception with a guard of honor and a military orchestra took place at the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense for General Anil Chauhan, the Chief of the Defense Staff of the Indian Armed Forces, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit. During the ceremony, the national anthems of Armenia and India were performed, after which Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, received General Anil Chauhan in the presence of Nilakshi Saha Singha, the Ambassador of India to Armenia.

During the meeting, Suren Papikyan stated that he highly appreciates the current level of Armenia–India defense cooperation and emphasized the importance of the consistent implementation of bilateral cooperation programs. General Anil Chauhan stated that the Indian Armed Forces are ready to further develop cooperation in existing areas and initiate new fields of mutual interest, with both sides also discussing regional and international security issues.

At the Ministry of Defense, Edward Asryan, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, held a tête-à-tête meeting with General Anil Chauhan, followed by an expanded meeting of delegations. During this session, the parties summed up activities under the Bilateral Cooperation Plan, discussed the effective implementation of measures planned for 2026, and emphasized cooperation in education, professional retraining, exercises, and exchanges of experience. Asryan emphasized the role of Armenia–India defense cooperation in the transformation of the Armenian Armed Forces.

As part of the official visit, General Anil Chauhan visited the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, where he was briefed on the academy’s structure, educational programs, and cadet training system. He participated in the opening ceremony of the Information Technology Laboratory and the Distance Learning Center, and later visited the National Defense Research University to meet with the management and teaching staff, familiarize himself with the university’s activities, and deliver a lecture.

On February 4, at the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense, Karen Brutyan, the Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, received General Anil Chauhan. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to Armenian–Indian defense cooperation and military-technical cooperation.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan And UAE Strengthen Military Cooperation Through Joint Exercises

On February 3, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates, observed the joint operational-tactical exercise "Peace Shield – 2026" conducted in Abu Dhabi with the participation of servicemen from both countries.

During the exercise, which was carried out in urban, mountainous, and maritime environments, military personnel performed tasks including the detection and neutralization of illegal armed groups, the restoration of control over a seized vessel, the neutralization of terrorist elements and release of hostages, the evacuation of wounded personnel, the prevention of riots and sabotage activities threatening public security, and the execution of firefighting operations. The main goal was to enhance counterterrorism skills, contribute to lasting peace, and promote the exchange of experience between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and the UAE.

As part of a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, held a bilateral meeting with Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, the UAE Minister of State for Defense Affairs. During this meeting, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of Azerbaijani–UAE military cooperation, emphasizing that joint exercises and reciprocal visits contribute to the expansion of bilateral military relations. They also exchanged views on cooperation in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields.

During the visit, Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, the Chief of the General Staff of the UAE Armed Forces. The Chiefs of the General Staff emphasized the importance of the "Peace Shield – 2026" exercise in strengthening the exchange of experience and discussed a number of additional issues of mutual interest.

Azerbaijan And Iran Deepen Military And Strategic Ties During High-Level Visit In Baku

On February 6, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, received a delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran led by Aziz Nasirzadeh, the Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

During the meeting, Ilham Aliyev recalled his recent telephone conversation with Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and stated that high-level contacts in various formats create favorable opportunities to address issues on the bilateral agenda. He emphasized that Pezeshkian’s official visit to Azerbaijan the previous year had been successful and had contributed to the further development of relations.

During the conversation, the head of state emphasized that wars and conflicts continue in many parts of the world, while noting that peace has been established in the South Caucasus through Azerbaijan’s initiative. He stressed that this was of particular importance for Iran as a neighboring country to both Azerbaijan and Armenia, stating, "We want peace throughout the world, no bloodshed, no wars," and underscoring that Azerbaijan demonstrates a successful transition from war to peace.

As part of the visit, Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with the delegation led by Aziz Nasirzadeh. Before the meeting, the Iranian delegation visited the Alley of Shehids, paid tribute to the memory of citizens who became Shehids for Azerbaijan’s independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, and laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument. During the official welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of Defense, the delegation passed in front of the guard of honor, the national anthems of both countries were performed, and the Book of Honor was signed in accordance with protocol.

During the meeting, Zakir Hasanov emphasized that Azerbaijani–Iranian relations are rooted in centuries-long historical ties and stated that mutual visits and joint exercises contribute to the further development of bilateral relations. Aziz Nasirzadeh stated that cooperation based on friendly and brotherly relations is of great importance for advancing military cooperation alongside other areas. During the discussions, the sides addressed the current state and future prospects of cooperation in the military, military-technical, military education, and science fields, and held a broad exchange of views on regional security and other issues of mutual interest.

Shahin Mammadov Visits Pakistan On Official Naval Cooperation Mission

On February 6, during a visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a delegation led by Shahin Mammadov, the Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, met with Naveed Ashraf, the Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan.

During the official welcoming ceremony, the delegation passed in front of the guard of honor, the national anthems of both countries were performed in accordance with protocol, and a wreath was laid at the Shehids monument. During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and future prospects of cooperation between the navies of Azerbaijan and Pakistan and emphasized the importance of conducting joint exercises to enhance the exchange of experience and improve the professionalism of naval personnel.

Later, Shahin Mammadov met with Asif Muhammad Khawaja, the Federal Minister for Defense of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, expressed gratitude for the reception, and emphasized that expanding cooperation with Pakistan in the defense sphere is a priority for Azerbaijan’s leadership. The sides expressed confidence that mutual visits would positively contribute to the development of bilateral military cooperation.

Following a meeting with Abdul Munib, the Commander of the Pakistan Fleet, Shahin Mammadov met with Azerbaijani servicemen studying in Pakistan, inquired about their education, and also familiarized himself with the conditions at Pakistan’s ship repair facilities. The sides emphasized the importance of cooperation in naval forces, military education, and military-technical areas.

Georgia

Paata Patiashvili Attends Third REAIM Summit

On February 5, Paata Patiashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia, attended the Third Summit of Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Field (REAIM) in the Kingdom of Spain.

During the summit, which Paata Patiashvili attended at the invitation of Margarita Robles, the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Spain, and Jose Manuel Albares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, he emphasized the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the modern security environment and stated the need to ensure responsibility in its military application.

During the event, it was noted that the La Coruña Summit serves as a global platform bringing together representatives of the public, private, and civilian sectors to exchange views on the use of artificial intelligence in the military sphere. Within the framework of the summit, Paata Patiashvili met with Juan Francisco Martinez Nuñez, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Spain, and during the meeting the colleagues discussed issues and future perspectives of cooperation in the field of defense.