Armenia

Armenian Defense Minister Visits Brussels

On May 28, a delegation led by Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, departed for Brussels on a working visit.

During his visit to Belgium, Minister Papikyan held a meeting with David Clarinval, the Vice-Prime Minister of Belgium, where they discussed potential cooperation between Armenia and Belgium in the defense sector. Papikyan outlined the ongoing reforms in the Armenian Armed Forces, detailing their objectives and progress, as well as the Government of Armenia's project "The Crossroad of Peace." The meeting also addressed cooperation within NATO and the EU, alongside broader discussions on regional security in multilateral contexts.

As part of his working visit, Minister Papikyan visited the headquarters of the "John Cockerill" company, where he met with the company's Chief Executive Officer, Thierry Renaudin. Papikyan was briefed on the company's products and future projects, and both parties agreed to continue discussing possibilities for further cooperation.

At the invitation of Josep Borrell, the High Representative for the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Minister Papikyan attended a working dinner with Defence Ministers from the EU and partner countries. This event, organized within the Schuman Security and Defence Forum framework, focused on European security issues. During the event, Papikyan engaged in bilateral discussions concerning defense cooperation with the Defence Ministers of Sweden, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Georgia.

On May 29, Minister Papikyan participated in the opening ceremony of the Schuman Security and Defence Forum, where he participated in panel discussions on regional and international security issues. On the forum's sidelines, he met with General Robert Brieger, the Chairman of the EUMC. Their discussions focused on Armenia-EU cooperation in the defense sector, and they agreed to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The Defence Minister also presented the ongoing reforms within the Armenian Armed Forces and addressed regional security issues during the meetings.

Azerbaijan

Local exercises

On May 27, a training session for reservists was held in one of the military units as part of joint activities with the State Service for Mobilization and Conscription. This session covered the tactical and technical features of modern weapons and military equipment used by the Azerbaijan Army, their operational rules, and elements of drill training. Additionally, participants successfully completed tasks involving taking firing positions and destroying imaginary enemy targets at the firing range. The session aimed to enhance the reservists' combat training, knowledge, and practical skills.

On May 31, during the units' withdrawal to the exercise area, their maneuverability capabilities and the skills of commanders in managing headquarters under difficult operational conditions were assessed. The headquarters' activities in providing comprehensive support to units were also evaluated. At the deployed field and stationary combat control points, operation planning was initiated, and actions corresponding to optimal military decision-making processes were conducted based on tasks received from higher command.

The second stage of the exercises took place in the Simulation Center, using computers to ensure the effective application of decisions made by headquarters, commanders' skills in unit management, and fire support equipment. During the command-staff exercise, tasks for formations, units, and subunits involved in practical activities were clarified, and issues of interoperability among special forces units, communications units, tank units, mechanized units, and artillery units during training combat actions were addressed.

The air defense units' reconnaissance and target designation stations involved in the exercise carried out continuous airspace reconnaissance. The data collected was analyzed and transmitted to command control points and interacting units. Combat crews ensured airspace safety by destroying an imaginary aerial enemy operating under intense active and passive interference at various altitudes.

During the exercise, rocket and artillery formations, units, and subunits used data from unmanned aerial vehicles and military reconnaissance equipment to detect and destroy the imaginary enemy with precise strikes. Special forces performed various reconnaissance tasks deep within enemy territory and in challenging mountainous and wooded areas. With the fire support of artillery units, the special forces attacked and captured key facilities of the imaginary enemy. All set objectives were achieved during the exercise, which aimed to improve commanders' operational decision-making skills, the interoperability between headquarters, and their ability to fulfill combat missions under difficult conditions.

Azerbaijan Hosts Meeting with Serbian CIMIC Experts

On May 27, the Azerbaijan Army’s Training and Educational Center hosted a meeting between civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) experts from the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Serbia. During the meeting, the guests were provided with detailed information about the Azerbaijan Army's activities in military-civilian cooperation and the international experience gained in this area.

The Serbian representatives emphasized the importance of the CIMIC program and highlighted their efforts in this field. At the end of the meeting, discussions on the presented briefings were held, and questions of mutual interest were answered.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Holds Talks with Turkish Counterpart

On May 29, a delegation led by Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, departed for a working visit to the Republic of Türkiye. On the same day, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with Türkiye's National Defense Minister, Yaşar Güler, to discuss prospects for developing cooperation in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields and exchange views on various issues of mutual interest.

On May 29, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, also on a working visit to Türkiye to participate in the EFES-2024 multinational exercise, met with Army General Metin Gürak, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye. They discussed the current state of military and military-technical cooperation and emphasized the importance of increasing the intensity of joint exercises to exchange experience.

On May 31, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by Colonel General İsmail Günaydın, Chief of the Main Intelligence Department of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Türkiye, who was on an official visit to Azerbaijan. Defense Minister Hasanov welcomed the guests and expressed satisfaction with the positive impact of the sincere relations between the heads of state on military cooperation. He also commended the organization of the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Türkiye. Colonel General İsmail Günaydın highlighted that the friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye are based on mutual trust and support. The meeting discussed the current state and prospects for developing cooperation in the military and military-educational spheres and emphasized the importance of events held within the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting. Subsequently, Colonel General Karim Valiyev met with the Turkish delegation at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army. Both sides expressed satisfaction with bilateral military cooperation and stressed that such meetings are important for expanding cooperation between the two fraternal countries. A detailed exchange of views on various issues of mutual interest was also held during the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan Discuss Military Medicine Cooperation

On June 1, a meeting took place at the Medical Department of the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry. During the meeting, Lieutenant Colonel Anar Ismayilov, acting Chief of the Medical Department of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense, and Colonel Amanbai Matisakov, Chief of the Medical Department of the Defense Ministry of the Kyrgyz Republic, exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation in the field of military medicine.

Following the meeting, the Kyrgyz representatives visited several medical facilities, including the Main Clinical Hospital, Central Military Polyclinic, Central Dental Polyclinic, Sanitary-Epidemiological Control Center, Forensic-Medical Expertise, and Pathological Anatomy Center. During their visit, they observed the activities of doctors serving in military medicine.

Georgia

Georgian Defense Minister Participates in Schuman Security and Defense Forum in Brussels

On May 29, Irakli Chikovani, the Minister of Defense of Georgia, visited the Kingdom of Belgium to attend the "Schuman Security and Defense Forum" in Brussels. The forum, organized for the second time on the initiative of Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission, provided a platform for international partners to discuss common security challenges and ways to respond.

The event brought together politicians, decision-makers, EU members, over 60 partner military officials from various countries, representatives of international organizations, leading analytical centers, and academia. It aimed to facilitate discussions on international cooperation to effectively address existing threats and challenges, promote world peace, and uphold the international law-based order.