Armenia

Suren Papikyan Delivers New Year Address on Military Reforms

On December 31, Suren Papikyan, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, delivered a New Year address outlining the outcomes of military reforms and priorities for the armed forces. In his remarks, Papikyan stated that the past year marked an important stage in the development of the Armenian Army and in the implementation of multi-layered reforms. He emphasized that throughout 2025, the authorities continued the army transformation program while initiating legislative amendments aimed at strengthening the foundations of the armed forces and improving military service effectiveness.

Papikyan highlighted that specific legislative initiatives were implemented to reduce the term of compulsory military service, increase the number of contract professional servicemen, and modernize service conditions . He stressed that these steps played a key role in shaping a modern, disciplined, and effective army . He further stated that parallel measures were taken to enhance reserve readiness, develop military education, modernize infrastructure, and diversify armaments . Additionally, prioritizing the development of the local military industry aimed to strengthen independence and defense capabilities.

Azerbaijan

Zakir Hasanov Meets US Senator Markwayne Mullin in Baku

On January 4, Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, met with Markwayne Mullin, a US Senator from Oklahoma, along with other members of the House of Representatives visiting Azerbaijan. During the meeting, Hasanov expressed satisfaction with the current state of Azerbaijan–US relations, emphasizing their particular importance for both countries . Senator Mullin stated that mutual visits and meetings were effective in strengthening bilateral ties. The discussions focused on new opportunities and future prospects for cooperation in military, military-technical, and military education fields.

Georgia

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