‘If Yerevan continues to arm itself, it should have no claims against us later’: Aliyev threatens Armenia again

December 18 2024, 12:30

Politics

 
Azerbaijan is forced to adopt a record $5 billion military budget because of the West’s arms supply to Armenia, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with VGTRK and RIA Novosti.

“We are, of course, forced to take appropriate steps. Our next military budget in 2025 will be record-breaking, about $5 billion,” he said.

According to him, “Armenia should realize that no one will help it ‘on the ground’ in case of provocation against Azerbaijan, despite the support from the US and France.”

Aliyev said that “Armenia should not forget the results of the Second Karabakh War and the September 2023 operation.” He said the maximum support of French President Emmanuel Macron and the US State Department does not give Yerevan any guarantees.

He added that Baku “will continue to call for a halt of arms supply to Armenia.”

“And if this continues, then Armenia should not have any claims against us later,” he said, adding that France’s supply of offensive weapons to Armenia poses a real threat to Azerbaijan.

“The weapons that Macron’s government is supplying to Armenia are offensive lethal weapons that pose a practical threat to Azerbaijan,” he said. 

He said Baku has repeatedly called on Paris and Washington to stop Armenia’s militarization. “But unfortunately, we have not been heard. The process of arming Armenia is proceeding by leaps and bounds,” he added.