Azerbaijani military budget increased

For 2014, Azerbaijan's state budget will allot $3.8 billion USD for military expenditures. The total budget of the country is more than $25 billion USD. In 2003, the Azerbaijani military budget was $163 million USD. Recently, Azerbaijan intensively purchased military equipment, helicopters, planes, modern air-defense systems, armored vehicles, tanks, artillery systems, combat vessels, and drones. The country purchased these items from Russia, Israel, South Korea and other countries.

With this background, Armenia’s military budget in 2013 reached $450 million USD. Analysts suggest that the recent agreement of Armenia to join customs union with Russia was prompted by the necessity to secure its safety.