Armenia

Cooperation with UAE

On November 13, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia Suren Papikyan, in the framework of his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, attended the opening ceremony of Dubai Airshow’s edition at the invitation of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Minister of Defence, Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Press Office of the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported. 

After a day, Suren Papikyan met with Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, the UAE Minister of State for Defence. The RA Minister of High-Tech Industry, Robert Khachatryan, also attended the meeting. Issues related to the prospects for developing defense cooperation between Armenia and UAE were discussed. The sides expressed their readiness to develop cooperation and establish a legal basis for it.

New armes deal with India

Indian Defense Company Bharat Forge Kalyani Group has confirmed a major export deal with Armenia. The agreement includes the sale of the advanced MArG 155 wheeled self-propelled howitzers and ATAGS 155mm towed guns, marking a new chapter in India-Armenia defense relations.

Expansion of military ties with Georgia

On November 17, Suren Papikyan received Juansher Burchuladze, Georgia's Minister of Defence, who had arrived in Armenia on an official visit. An expanded meeting was followed after the tête-à-tête conversation of the defense ministers. Issues related to Armenian-Georgian defense cooperation and regional security were discussed. The sides presented the details of ongoing reforms in the armed forces of both countries. Following the official meeting, the Defense Ministers signed a bilateral cooperation plan between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. Afterward, the Minister of Defence of Georgia, Juansher Burchuladze, planted a personalized spruce on the territory of the administrative complex of the MoD.

Ceasefire violation

On November 18, at around 09:50 AM [local time], a soldier of the N military unit of the MoD of the Republic of Armenia, E. H., received a gunshot wound in the wake of the shot fired by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the Armenian combat outposts near Paruyr Sevak. The health condition of the serviceman is assessed as moderate, with no danger to life at present. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry categorically denied this information.  

Azerbaijan

Meetings with Italian military company and minister

On November 14, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was on a visit to the UAE to participate in the Dubai Airshow 2023 international exhibition, met with Guido Crosetto, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Italy. Prospects for developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, as well as other issues of mutual interest, were discussed at the meeting, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.

On November 15, the delegation led by Zakir Hasanov got acquainted with the weapons, vehicles, and military equipment produced by the Italian company Leonardo, exhibited at the Dubai Airshow 2023 international exhibition in UAE. In the meeting with the head of the company, the importance of developing military-technical cooperation was emphasized, and several issues of common interest were discussed.

"Doğu Akdeniz-2023" trainings

On November 17, a briefing was presented to the participants of the Doğu Akdeniz-2023 international exercise (Eastern Mediterranean-2023) held in Marmaris, Türkiye. The briefing provided information about the exercise's objectives, scenario, area, assigned tasks, and activities to be accomplished.

In the exercise involving a group of servicemen of the Marine Special Forces detachment of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, tasks will be accomplished on various episodes.

The international exercise will last until November 25 of the current year.

Local exercises

On November 18, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and other high-ranking officers of the Ministry visited one of the Air Defense Units of the Air Force for a sudden inspection of combat training.

Colonel General Hasanov inspected the commanders’ practical skills in decision-making and the use of forces, as well as the units’ combat training. Then, the Minister of Defense and other high-ranking officers of the Ministry arrived at the training range to watch the practical combat firing of Air Defense Units. At the command-and-control post, Colonel General Hasanov heard reports on combat training and combat readiness of the Air Defense Units.

The practical firing was conducted following the fulfillment of the tasks on planning and managing the Air Defense Units’ combat activities using a command-and-staff vehicle. The assigned tasks were successfully accomplished by destroying the imaginary enemy’s air targets.

Georgia

Discussion of expansion of bilateral military ties with the new Czech Ambassador

On November 13, Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze met Petr Kubernat, the new Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Georgia, the Press Office of the Georgian Defense Ministry reported. The sides talked about the recommendation issued by the European Commission - granting Georgia EU candidate status. It was noted that Czech support for Georgia on the way to Western integration, in particular, political and practical cooperation between countries in the field of defense and security.

"The Minister of Defense has paid attention to the participation of Czech observers in the EU observer mission, as well as the Czech expert in initiatives planned by the NATO-Georgia essential package (SNGP). Noted, financial support of the Czech Republic for SNGP initiatives within the framework of the NATO Defense Capacity Building Trust Fund (DCB TF)," the report added.

Juansher Burchuladze focused on fruitful bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the Czech Republic in the field of defense and talked about the measures foreseen by the bilateral cooperation plan between the agencies, as well as the joint participation of Czech and Georgian armies in international military exercises. The Minister emphasized the importance of strategic-level cooperation and invited his Czech colleague to Georgia.

Meeting with Nikol Pashinyan

On November 18, during the visit to the Republic of Armenia, Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. At the meeting, the sides discussed the security environment and challenges in the region and worldwide. The conversation touched upon Georgia's readiness to make efforts for the peaceful development of the region within the Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative.

The importance of the European Commission's recommendation on granting Georgia candidate status was particularly noted during the meeting. The Defense Minister noted that Georgia works actively to fulfill the necessary obligations and procedures afterward. The talks also touched upon cooperation between the EU and Georgia in different formats in the field of security and defense policy.