BAKU – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has once again warned Armenia against rearming its military as he addressed the nation on so called “Victory Day”, commemorating Azerbaijan’s victory in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
“Armenia must abandon the policy of armament. This must come to an end,” Aliyev stated on November 8, as reported by Azerbaijani media. “I have repeatedly said this, and they know that my words must be heeded. They must abandon this before it is too late. They will never be able to compete with us.”
Despite his warning, the Azerbaijani leader emphasized that Baku does not seek war, having “restored its territorial integrity and state sovereignty.”
Aliyev noted, “The history of the 30-year occupation cannot be erased from our memory,” adding that “we must be prepared for any new provocation.” He continued, “Anyone who wants to test our strength once again will face defeat, humiliation, and disgrace. Our victory in the 44-day Patriotic War and the anti-terrorist operation was not only a defeat for Armenia but also a bitter and humiliating defeat for those who stood behind it.”
Authorities in Yerevan did not immediately respond to Aliyev’s latest remarks. In the past, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has defended Armenia’s right to build its armed forces as a sovereign nation. He and other Armenian officials have reiterated that Armenia has no aggressive intentions toward any of its neighbors, including Azerbaijan, and is arming itself solely for defense purposes.
In recent years, Armenia has strengthened its military by acquiring weapons from international partners, including France and India, and is reportedly planning to procure additional modern weaponry, such as artillery and air defense missile systems.
