Armenia

Visit to China

On October 30, Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defense of Armenia, in his working visit to the People's Republic of China, attended the "10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum" opening ceremony and a plenary session.

On the same day, Suren Papikyan met with Colonel General He Weidong, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of PRC and a member of the Politburo of the "Chinese Communist Party." During the meeting, several issues related to cooperation in the defense field and its potential for development were discussed. Both parties emphasized the significant potential for expanding cooperation in various areas.

Work against illegal weapon usage

On November 1, employees of the Abovyan department of the Armenian Defense Military Police received operative information that an unidentified citizen had left weapons and ammunition on the right side of the road from Geghashen village to Zovk village in Kotayk region. Employees of Abovyan's Department, who went to the mentioned place, found self-propellers, guns, and grenades without explosives and bullets. The Armenian Defense Military Police informed that the work on finding illegal weapons-ammunition will be continued. 

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani delegation visits China

On October 30, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who was on a visit to China, participated in the opening ceremony of the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.

On the same day, the Defense Minister met with the heads of several companies from the military-industrial complex of China. At the meetings, the current state and prospects for the development of cooperation were discussed, and a detailed exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest was held.

On October 31, Zakir Hasanov met with Colonel General He Weidong, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China. Prospects for the development of cooperation in the military, military-technical, military-educational, and other spheres, as well as several issues of mutual interest, were discussed at the meeting.

Azerbaijan and Italy discuss military cooperation

On October 31, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with a delegation led by Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Chief of Defense of Italy. 

The meeting between the Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army and the Chief of Defense of Italy was held in one-on-one and expanded formats.

Speaking about the large-scale reforms carried out in the field of army development, the Chief of the General Staff highlighted the importance of the use of new technologies in the Azerbaijan Army and the work done in the field of cybersecurity.

In turn, Admiral Dragone stressed the significance of mutual visits in the development of relations between the countries.

The necessity for further expansion of military relations between Azerbaijan and Italy based on strategic partnership was emphasized at the meeting. At the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in military, military-technical, military-educational, and other spheres, as well as several issues of mutual interest.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan discuss expanding cooperation in military

On November 1, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, received Asim Munir, the Chief of Pakistan’s Army Staff. Aliyev hailed the continuous support the government and people of Pakistan provided to Azerbaijan during Armenia’s aggression against the country. The fact that Pakistan did not establish diplomatic relations with Armenia because of this country’s aggression was described by the head of state as a demonstration of a brotherly attitude toward Azerbaijan. Praising successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the defense industry. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out the importance of conducting joint military training between the two countries. Touching upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries at the international level, the head of state reiterated that Azerbaijan had always supported brotherly Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Asim Munir congratulated Azerbaijan on its victory in the Second Karabakh War and its achievements in the anti-terrorist measures taken in September this year, adding that it was welcomed with great joy in Pakistan. The Chief of Pakistan's Army Staff once again emphasized that Pakistan, remaining committed to fraternal relations with the people of Azerbaijan, had not recognized Armenia until today.

On the same day, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov received a delegation led by Asim Munir. Hasanov stressed that bilateral and trilateral military cooperation between Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Türkiye is based on friendly and fraternal relations. The meeting also discussed cooperation issues between the two countries in the military, military-technical, military-educational, and other spheres.

Local exercises

On November 1, the Combined Arms Army held command-staff exercises in order to improve the combat capability of headquarters and military personnel. In accordance with the scenario, exercises started with the withdrawal of formations, units, and subunits to combat areas in order to bring them to different levels of combat readiness. At the next stage of the exercises, measures on the deployment of control points, planning of operations by the headquarters, making necessary reports for decision-making, maintaining interoperability between units, and implementing measures for the organization of comprehensive provision were taken. The tasks of formations, units, and subunits involved in practical activities were specified, and the interoperability of artillery and air defense units with the combined arms formations was worked out.

On November 2, as part of NATO's Defense Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), the training on "Development of STANAG-6001 reading and listening test" with the participation of specialists of the Bureau for International Language Coordination (BILC) was conducted at the Military Administration Institute of the National Defense University of the Ministry of Defense. It was emphasized that the meetings and organized courses played an important role in improving the military educational sphere of the Azerbaijan Army. The delegation provided information about activities to be carried out during the training on teaching modern methodology, methods, and means of military education. The main objective of the training is to improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and instructors involved in the Foreign Language Center’s activities on the development and evaluation of test questions of STANAG-6001.

On November 4, command-staff mobilization exercises were held at the training and educational center of the Azerbaijan Army with motorized rifle units. During the mobilization exercises, the relevant tasks of manning motorized rifle units, ensuring combat interoperability, organizing a deployment to the combat area, clarifying reports on deployment in terrain, and preparing for the next tasks were fulfilled.

On the same day, the next graduation ceremony of the underwater attack special force course was held in one of the military units of the Naval Forces. Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov, the Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, thanked the Turkish officers and the entire staff for organizing and conducting the high-level course, which also involved professional instructors from fraternal Türkiye.

Georgia

Local exercises

On November 3, the 52nd Artillery Battalion of the 5th Artillery Brigade completed the field training with live firing. The field training at the Vaziani shooting range was focused on conducting a defensive operation and lasted for three weeks. The first stage was dedicated to the mutual integration of the battalion and the subordinate units, the second stage included the assessment of the battalion by the assessment-control groups, and the third stage ended with combat firing. The exercise aimed to improve the joint operations and practical skills of the battalion headquarters, firing units, and anti-aircraft calculations.

The command and staff exercise "Didgori 2023," created to deepen coordination and improve interaction between government agencies in crises, was officially opened. "Didgori" is being held for the ninth time this year, and unlike the previous trainings, it is more large-scale and outstanding. In addition to the headquarters part, field components will also be played by attracting forces to different training areas. New interdepartmental components were formed in the teaching architecture of the headquarters - the strategic communications interdepartmental group and the simulation media center. Completely new components were added to the field part, including marine, as well as chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear elements. For the first time, representatives of volunteer organizations will be involved in the field components, along with elements of the territorial reserve and resistance.

Meeting with the Greek Ambassador

On November 4, Lela Chikovani, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia, met with Maria Theodorou, the Ambassador of Greece to Georgia, who introduced the new attaché of defense. The sides discussed the directions of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Greece in defense. The conversation touched upon the issues of the bilateral cooperation plan for 2023. Georgian First Deputy of Defense discussed military education, defense academies, and cooperation between special operations forces with Greek representatives. The conversation also touched upon the participation of Georgian and Greek soldiers in multinational exercises planned in Georgia and Greece. Chikovani thanked Theodorou for supporting the Republic of Greece in the process of implementing initiatives under the NATO-Georgia Essential Package (SNGP).

EU Ambassador visits Georgian Defense Ministry

On November 5, Ambassador Dimitrios Karabalis, the head of the EU Monitoring Mission, visited Georgia's Ministry of Defense. Lela Chikovani and the representatives of the Defense Forces hosted the representatives of the European Union Monitoring Mission.

At the extended meeting, the parties discussed cooperation issues and plans between the Ministry of Defense and the EU Monitoring Mission. Ambassador Dimitrios Karabalis informed the Georgian side about the mission's activities and emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of Defense.

The Georgian side noted the important role of the EUMM as the only international monitoring mechanism in maintaining stability in Georgia.