In mid-April, Azerbaijan intensified its military diplomacy and operational readiness, leveraging diverse partnerships to modernize its armed forces and refine a new operational concept centered on mobility, interoperability, and combat adaptability.

On April 16, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff, visited Slovakia at the invitation of his counterpart, General Daniel Zmeko. The Azerbaijani delegation toured Slovak defense industry facilities and training centers, exploring prospects for deeper military-technical cooperation, particularly in weapons manufacturing and defense innovation.

This outreach continued the next day when Lieutenant General Namig Islamzade, Commander of the Azerbaijani Air Force, hosted Major General Brane Krnjajić, head of Serbia’s Air Force and Air Defense. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral air force collaboration and outlining future joint initiatives.

On April 18, Azerbaijan welcomed a military delegation from Kazakhstan, a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member, led by Major General Almaz Dzhumakeev. The Kazakh officers inspected Azerbaijan’s Commando and Special Forces units—core components of the country’s reformed combat architecture. Kazakhstan expressed keen interest in Azerbaijan’s combat training system and its use of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Israeli-designed Orbiter 3 drones. Talks emphasized experience-sharing, joint drills, and tactical interoperability.

That same day, Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with Turkish Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ercüment Tatlıoğlu to deepen cooperation in naval operations and military education, reaffirming the robust Azerbaijan-Turkey defense partnership.

Analytical Assessment:

In parallel with diplomatic efforts, Azerbaijan conducted two tactical exercises on April 8 and 12, integrating artillery, aircraft, UAV reconnaissance, and Special Forces maneuvers. These drills showcased the country’s shift toward a flexible, high-tech warfare model and served as a live demonstration of its evolving doctrine.

By cultivating a broad spectrum of military partnerships and prioritizing combined arms training and technological integration, Azerbaijan is enhancing its operational versatility, strategic mobility, and combat proficiency. These efforts are strengthening its national defense posture in the context of modern warfare. Azerbaijan’s approach, blending conventional capabilities with asymmetric and high-tech warfare elements, is positioning it as a regional exemplar of military modernization, attracting growing interest from both NATO and CSTO-aligned states eager to observe or emulate its evolving doctrine.

By Mikhail Mkrtchian, Regional Security Analyst