US Refuses to Sell Military Equipment to Azerbaijan

BAKU — The U.S. side has declined Azerbaijan’s recent request on buying Cougar and HMMWV military vehicles withdrawn from Afghanistan, Azerbaijani APA agency reported quoting military sources.

According to the agency, it was expected that the military vehicles would be given as a part of the inventory of peacekeeping brigade of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, but the U.S. has declined to sell these vehicles to Azerbaijan. The US decision was based on Washington’s embargo on sale of weapons and military equipment to conflicting countries.

Earlier the U.S. had announced that the military equipment withdrawn from Afghanistan will be sold, and preference will be given to countries which have taken an active part in the peacekeeping actions.

Azerbaijan will equip the brigade envisaged for peacekeeping operations with local production Matador and Marauder mine-protected vehicles and Turkish-produced Cobra armored vehicles.