Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev Demands Armenia Stop Buying Weapons

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev is demanding from Armenia to stop buying weapons. Addressing the nation on Azerbaijani Victory Day, Aliyev emphasized his stance that Armenia’s policy of rearmament must end. His address comes during ongoing peace talks between the two South Caucasus nations.

Aliyev’s remarks show his continued insistence that Armenia cannot match Azerbaijan’s military power and that further arms purchases by Yerevan are futile. “Armenia must abandon its policy of armament; it must come to an end,” Aliyev said, adding, “They will never have the power to compete with us.” He suggested that the 2020 war and Azerbaijan’s swift September 2023 offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh proved Azerbaijan’s military dominance, describing these events as a “lesson” for Armenia. Aliyev noted that the September offensive had “eradicated separatism” in the region and expelled ethnic Armenians, leaving “no trace” of their presence in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The September 2023 operation forced more than 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia, drawing condemnation from the United States, the European Union, and other international organizations over the humanitarian impact. Aliyev, however, celebrated this as a victory, claiming it restored Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. He said that Baku does not seek renewed conflict but warned that Azerbaijan is ready to respond if provoked. "Even now, we must be ready for any new provocation,” he cautioned, adding that anyone challenging Azerbaijan’s strength would face “humiliation and defeat.”

Armenia’s government has not directly responded to Aliyev’s latest demands, but Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and other Armenian leaders have consistently defended their right to maintain national security. Armenia, they argue, has a sovereign right to build its armed forces, particularly in light of recent conflicts and threats from Azerbaijan. Armenia’s military strategy includes purchasing modern weaponry from international allies such as France and India, with reports indicating that the country plans to enhance its artillery and air defense systems. Armenian officials maintain that these measures are purely defensive, emphasizing that Armenia has no intentions of aggression toward its neighbors, including Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan has also clarified that Armenia does not claim sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh, expressing that Armenia’s defense investments are focused solely on protecting its borders. However, Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of occupying parts of its recognized territory following cross-border incursions in 2021 and 2022. Azerbaijan continues to deny these allegations despite proof of invasion.

Despite ongoing tensions, both Armenia and Azerbaijan have engaged in peace negotiations, with support from the United States and other Western partners. The international community, including the U.S. and the EU, has urged the two countries to reach a peace treaty by the end of this year, viewing this as a critical step toward long-term stability in the region.