Azerbaijan to meet modern weapon needs through collaboration with Türkiye

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov announced plans to bolster the country’s military with cutting-edge weapons, equipment and ammunition. To achieve this, Azerbaijan will leverage the capabilities of its top military partner, Türkiye.

In an interview with  Azerbaijani state news agency AZERTAG on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijani army, Hasanov evaluated military relations with Türkiye.

Hasanov highlighted the exceptional level of military cooperation between the two nations. He pointed to the Shusha Declaration, which formally designates them as allies. This partnership extends far beyond joint training exercises, with a high degree of integration already achieved across all aspects of their armed forces, not just training and maneuvers.

Hasanov underscored the interconnectedness and collaboration between the command areas of the Turkish and Azerbaijani armed forces, saying: “In addition to experience sharing, significant work is being done in the field of the defense industry. In the near future, the production of the most modern weapons and equipment, or their parts, will begin in Azerbaijan. It is gratifying that the defense industry of brotherly Türkiye is developing very rapidly. We are not only talking about ‘Bayraktar‘ and ‘Akinci.’ In other areas, the Turkish defense industry has grown significantly. Of course, Azerbaijan benefits from this. Efforts in this direction are rapidly progressing.”

Hasanov noted that global conflicts and tensions are on the rise, leading countries to engage in an arms race.

“We entered this period prepared. We have the capability to meet 70% of our needs. Our goal is to take this even further. We will manufacture the missiles and ammunition we require. We will meet our needs for the most modern weapons, equipment, and ammunition on our own. We will carry out joint production using the capabilities of brotherly Türkiye.”