Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has once again issued a stern warning to Armenia about rebuilding its military, speaking during a national address on November 8, which marks Azerbaijan’s Victory Day following the 2020 conflict in Artsakh.
“Armenia must abandon its policy of rearmament. This must stop,” Aliyev declared, according to Azerbaijani media outlets. “I have emphasized this many times, and they are well aware that my words should be taken seriously. They need to cease this path before it’s too late, as they will never be able to match our strength.”
Despite his warnings, Aliyev also claimed that Azerbaijan has no intention of reigniting conflict after “restoring its territorial integrity and state sovereignty.” However, he cautioned that the painful memories of the 30-year occupation remain vivid, stressing that Azerbaijan must remain vigilant against any potential provocations.
“Anyone attempting to test our power again will face defeat, humiliation, and disgrace,” Aliyev said, referring to Azerbaijan’s decisive victory in the 44-day conflict in 2020 and a subsequent anti-terrorist operation. He added that these victories were not just against Armenia but were also a setback for unnamed external supporters of Yerevan.
The region of Artsakh, which had operated as a self-governing entity for nearly 30 years after breaking away from Azerbaijan’s control following the collapse of the Soviet Union, fell largely back under Baku’s authority during the 2020 war. That conflict claimed the lives of around 7,000 soldiers on both sides and forced thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee, either deeper into Artsakh or into Armenia itself.
In a swift military campaign in September 2023, Azerbaijan regained full control of the region, triggering the exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians—the vast majority of the remaining population—into Armenia within a single week. This assault drew condemnation from both the United States and the European Union.
The Armenian government has yet to formally respond to Aliyev’s latest remarks. However, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously defended Armenia’s right to strengthen its military as a sovereign state, emphasizing that its defense capabilities are solely for protective purposes. He has consistently maintained that Armenia has no aggressive intentions toward its neighbors, including Azerbaijan, and has no plans to reclaim Artsakh or other territories that Yerevan alleges were occupied by Azerbaijan in incursions during 2021-2022. Azerbaijan denies these allegations of territorial occupation.
In recent years, Armenia has sought to modernize its military, securing arms deals with international partners such as France and India. Reports indicate that Yerevan is planning to acquire advanced military equipment, including artillery systems and air defense missiles.
Meanwhile, both Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to engage in peace negotiations, with hopes of reaching a final agreement that could bolster security and stability in the South Caucasus. Western powers, including the United States, have urged both nations to finalize a peace treaty by the end of this year to resolve the longstanding conflict.
