Armenia

Armenia’s Defense Ministry Responds to Claims About Army Health and Conscription

On April 6, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia issued a statement addressing remarks made by Hayk Sargsyan, a deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, during a recent briefing with journalists concerning the situation within the Ministry of Defense.

The Ministry of Defense stated that Sargsyan’s claim regarding an alleged discussion in a closed session in 2024 about the causes of a soldier’s death from pneumonia was false. It further emphasized that no deaths from pneumonia were recorded in the armed forces in 2024. According to the ministry, since 2023 the implementation of vaccination programs, alongside early diagnosis measures and improved medical care, has contributed to a significant annual decrease in pneumonia cases by 8–13%, as well as a reduction in severe and extremely severe cases.

The ministry also addressed statements made by the deputy regarding conscription and mobilization figures, stressing that information related to conscription planning and numbers is classified and subject to protection. It added that the number of conscripts in 2025 increased by 25.3% compared to 2022. "Such misinformation can cause unnecessary concern in society and form a misconception about the conditions in the armed forces," the Ministry of Defense stated.

In addition, the ministry underlined that servicemen’s hygiene and related standards remain a consistent priority for the relevant structures.

Azerbaijan

Military Exercises

On April 7, the "Anatolian Phoenix - 2026" International Search and Rescue Exercise commenced in Konya, Türkiye, involving servicemen from multiple countries. The exercise was designed to strengthen coordination and operational interoperability among international search and rescue units, enhance command and control systems, improve the professional skills of personnel, and expand capabilities in locating and rescuing crew members in emergency scenarios. It also focused on conducting rescue operations across maritime, land, and difficult terrain environments, ensuring safe pilot evacuation, providing air support, and developing the proficiency of forward air controllers.

On April 11, the exercise continued in Konya, with activities progressing successfully according to the established plan. During briefings, participants were informed in detail about safety procedures, operational phases, as well as the terrain and climatic conditions of the training area. Within the framework of the scenario, parachute assault and search-and-rescue units carried out a coordinated operation to locate and rescue a simulated downed pilot. Helicopter-deployed personnel used the "fast rope" technique to descend into the operational zone, where they neutralized a simulated terrorist group positioned inside a building and detained its leader. Following the completion of the mission, full control of the area was secured and the pilot was safely evacuated, after which the units withdrew by helicopter. Aviation assets provided aerial cover and fire support throughout the operation, ensuring effective execution. The exercise is scheduled to continue until April 17, with a high level of professionalism and coordination demonstrated among participating forces.

On April 10, under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani military continued efforts to enhance combat readiness and personnel professionalism. The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, including senior leadership, observed a live-fire tactical exercise conducted in one of the military units. Zakir Hasanov, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel General, was briefed on the exercise’s concept, stages, and execution sequence using a map.

It was noted that, in line with the annual training plan and modern warfare approaches, the main objective of the tactical exercise was to improve commanders’ decision-making speed under the new operational concept, strengthen unit management under conditions of coordinated interoperability, and further develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of personnel. The Ministry of Defense leadership assessed positively the tactical performance of the units and the overall combat readiness of the forces.

Kazakh Defense Delegation Visits Azerbaijan Under Bilateral Cooperation Plan

On April 8, a delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by Darkhan Akhmediyev, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Digitalization, visited the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with the bilateral cooperation plan between the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

The delegation first visited the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, where they honored those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Azerbaijan by laying flowers.

At the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, Agil Gurbanov, the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Director General, held a meeting with Akhmediyev and the visiting delegation. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the current state and future development of cooperation in military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, as well as other areas of mutual interest.

Following the discussions, the Kazakh delegation visited several departments within the Ministry of Defense, including the Main Operational Department, the Main Department of Communications and Information Technologies, and the International Military Cooperation Department. They were briefed on working conditions and ongoing activities within these structures.

The delegation also visited the Jamshid Nakhchivanski Military Lyceum under the National Defense University, as well as the Main Department for Personnel, where they were introduced to the Personnel Electronic Information System. In addition, visits were planned to the Cybersecurity Center and a military unit of the Ministry of Defense, where the guests were to be briefed on cybersecurity measures related to modern weapons systems, information technologies used in the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as AI-based cyber defense capabilities against cyber threats and the application of advanced communication systems.

During the visit, relevant authorities provided detailed briefings on the organizational structure and operational areas of the respective units. The main objective of the visit was to facilitate the exchange of experience in the field of army development between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Azerbaijani Defense Delegation Visits China to Expand Military Cooperation

On April 10, a delegation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited the People’s Republic of China with the aim of expanding bilateral military relations between the two countries.

Within the framework of the visit, a working meeting was held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Ministry of National Defense of China on the prospects for military cooperation. During the meeting, the Azerbaijani and Chinese sides discussed the current state of bilateral military cooperation, explored potential areas for its further development, and exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interest. Both sides positively assessed the implementation of activities outlined in the previous year’s military cooperation plan and reviewed planned events for the current year.

It was emphasized during the discussions that Azerbaijani-Chinese military cooperation is mutually beneficial, particularly in terms of experience and information exchange between the defense institutions of both countries. The main objective of the working meeting was highlighted as strengthening existing relations and further expanding cooperation in the defense sphere.

Georgia

No important information was published by the Georgian side during this period.