The Azerbaijani army is being adapted to NATO standards

The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan are undergoing comprehensive modernization to adapt to NATO standards. This strategic direction was confirmed by President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with a NATO delegation in Baku.

The head of state placed special emphasis on close cooperation with the Turkish army, a long-standing NATO member, in this process. Turkey has significant experience in this field.

In his dialogue with alliance representatives, including high-ranking officials from Turkey, the United States, France, the Netherlands, and other countries, Aliyev stressed that the modernization of the Azerbaijani army will be long-term and consistent. He also stated that the primary goal had been to restore the country's territorial integrity, and that the current focus is on qualitatively enhancing its defense capabilities.

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO has a history spanning more than 30 years. In 1994, Azerbaijan joined the "Partnership for Peace" program, which served as a foundation for future cooperation.

Since then, cooperation has actively developed in numerous areas. This includes not only the participation of Azerbaijani military personnel in NATO operations, but also reforms of the military education system, adoption of advanced practices in troop management and technical equipment, as well as joint work in fields such as cybersecurity and energy security.

Representatives of the North Atlantic Alliance highly appreciated Azerbaijan’s contributions to international security, particularly its many years of involvement in Afghanistan. In addition, the country's role as a reliable transport and logistics hub in the region was highlighted.

During the meeting, mutual interest in further expanding and deepening cooperation was confirmed. One of the main instruments of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO is the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), which regulates a wide range of military-technical and defense issues.

Azerbaijan is considered one of the first partner countries to join this format. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!