Georgia and Azerbaijan Sign Updated Defense Cooperation Agreement
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
During the visit of the Minister of Defense of Georgia to Azerbaijan, the governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan signed an updated agreement on defense cooperation. The Ministry of Defense of Georgia has released information regarding this development.
As per the agency's report, Juansher Burchuladze, the Defense Minister of Georgia, highlighted the importance of strong interpersonal connections and good neighborly relations with Azerbaijan during his meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Zakir Hasanov. The two officials also discussed the security challenges in the region.
"The parties discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense and future plans, including participation in international training and military education programs. The conversation also covered cooperation in the format of trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia. It was noted that strategic-level meetings, cooperation in the field of defense, joint exercises, and expert meetings further strengthen the mutual compatibility between the countries." the Defense Ministry statement reads.
As per the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, the two parties held detailed discussions on matters concerning the preservation of peace and security in the region. They also discussed the potential expansion of cooperation in various areas such as military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, as well as other topics of mutual interest.
According to the information released by the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, during the meeting, the Minister of Defense updated his colleague about the provocations by Armenia aimed at exacerbating the situation along the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as in the region where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is currently stationed on Azerbaijani territory.
The meeting involved discussions on the potential for the development of bilateral and trilateral cooperation among Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia. According to the released information, there was also a thorough exchange of views on how to enhance the frequency and intensity of joint exercises and workshops.
During the visit, the Minister of Defense of Georgia also held a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. According to the 'Trend' agency, the discussions focused on the development of cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including defense. The two leaders also engaged in talks on regional security issues.
