Armenia

Suren Papikyan Highlights Unprecedented Defense Spending and Army Modernization

On November 13, Suren Papikyan, the Armenian Defense Minister, stated that defense expenditures had grown by $1.1 billion since 2018. Papikyan emphasized that defense allocations planned and implemented in 2023, 2024, 2025, and already foreseen for 2026 were "unprecedented" , noting that these resources made it possible to introduce various reforms, including the attestation system for contract servicemen. He explained that, due to this program, a contract serviceman could receive an additional 205,000 to 470,000 drams (≈€463–€1,062) based on attestation results.

The Minister outlined the revised scholarship system for the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy, noting that the number of cadets had grown by 26% since 2018. He also mentioned that the "Defender of the Fatherland" program had 4,220 beneficiaries in just two years. He considered the establishment of territorial defense forces and the regularity of 25-day training exercises to be among the significant achievements of recent years. Concluding his remarks, he stated: "I am convinced that the guarantee of the defense capability of each state and also the Achilles heel is the existence or absence of a functional reserve-logistics-army system".

Papikyan stated that ongoing construction and modernization efforts in the army consistently expanded the volume of barracks construction and improved living conditions. He emphasized that engineering works were steadily increasing and that army positions were being equipped with new, modern systems, which made the service safer and strengthened protection along the state border. He reported that, as of November 7, 2025, a total of 2,035 servicemen had acquired apartments or houses through a long-term mortgage lending initiative on preferential terms. The expansion of military-technical cooperation and the diversification of armaments remained central pillars of Armenia’s security system. He recalled that the Ministry had three-year agreements with local military-industrial companies worth 171 billion drams (≈€386,740,000). He emphasized that Armenia would use its armed forces and weaponry solely to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Participates In NATO Regional Cooperation Initiatives

On November 10, the graduation ceremony for the 34th edition of the 10-week NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC-34) took place at the NATO Defense College in Rome. Lieutenant Colonel Farman Mammadov, an officer of the Azerbaijan Army, successfully completed the course.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov Visits Bosnia And Herzegovina

On November 12, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, paid an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the visit, Hasanov met with Željka Cvijanović, the Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hasanov visited the memorial complex in the Friendship Park dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly and Srebrenica genocides and laid a wreath at the monument. His official visit continued with a stop at the Command of the European Union Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Turkish Contingent. During a meeting with Major General Florin-Marian Barbu, the Commander of the European Union Force (EUFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Azerbaijani side highlighted Azerbaijan’s positive experience within the Partnership for Peace programme and the Operational Capabilities Concept programme.

Hasanov later met with Colonel Mustafa Çetin Çelik, the Commander of the Turkish Contingent, and expressed condolences for the Turkish servicemen who became Shehids following the C-130 military cargo plane crash. Finally, Hasanov met with Zukan Helez, the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they discussed the current situation and future prospects of military cooperation. At the conclusion of the meeting, the two ministries signed a military cooperation plan.

Georgia

Georgian Defense Minister Meets Hungarian Chief Of General Staff

On November 11, Irakli Chikovani, the Minister of Defense of Georgia, met with General Gabor Borondi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Defense Forces. Chikovani thanked the Hungarian side for its unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and highlighted the positive dynamics in bilateral cooperation. The discussion covered the directions outlined in the bilateral plan between the defense ministries and the security environment in the region and globally. Lieutenant General Giorgi Matiashvili, the Commander of the Georgian Defense Forces, also thanked the Hungarian general for Hungary’s contribution to Georgia’s defense transformation process and the effective implementation of the SNGP. The Hungarian delegation also visited the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center in Krtsanisi.

Military Exercises

On November 13, the inter-agency headquarters training "Didgori 2025" was opened at the Krtsanisi General Military Center. "Didgori 2025" was presented as a national-level strategic, operational, and tactical headquarters exercise supported by computer systems. The training aimed to improve coordination and interaction among government agencies during crisis, emergency, and wartime situations. Up to 5,000 representatives of state agencies participated, with headquarters distributed across 25 locations throughout Georgia and 29 field components. The field phase covered nearly all municipalities. On November 14, a joint training was conducted by the Special Operations Team of the Defense Forces and the Rapid Reaction Authority Subdivision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs under the Strategic Pipeline Protection Department. The training involved synchronized actions both at headquarters and in the field, enhancing interoperability, experience sharing, and readiness for potential challenges.