Azerbaijan must remain prepared for war: Aliyev

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday that the nation must be prepared for war at all times, emphasizing that national security rests on the strength of the state, its people, and its military.

"Our armed forces stand guard over the interests and security of our state every minute, every day. We are observing and will continue to observe possible sources of threat,” Aliyev said in remarks during a visit to the Kalbajar region.

He said Azerbaijan has expanded its military capabilities since the second Karabakh war in 2020, increasing the number of special forces by thousands and creating new commando units.

Modern drones, artillery systems, and fully upgraded combat aircraft have been added to the arsenal, while contracts for new fighter jets have been signed, he added.

"We must always be ready for war, because the course of global developments makes it impossible to predict what will happen tomorrow,” Aliyev said.

"If anyone gets the idea of committing provocation against Azerbaijan, they will regret it again. From now on, we will live as a victorious people and a victorious state.”

Aliyev also highlighted progress on regional connectivity, saying one of the transport corridors will pass through Armenia, linking Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan.

"Our position has always been taken as the basis in drafting the peace treaty with Armenia,” he said. "Armenia has already undertaken this obligation, and I hope that in the coming years we will be able to travel by train and car from the main part of Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.”

He said the route will not only connect Azerbaijan’s territories but also serve as an international transport corridor. "Construction of the railway to Zangilan is successfully continuing and will likely be completed next year. Armenia has also taken on this obligation, which is another historic achievement for us.”

Azerbaijan and Armenia recently signed a joint declaration at a trilateral summit at the White House along with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to end decades of conflict, with commitments to cease hostilities, reopen transport routes, and normalize relations.

Relations between Baku and Yerevan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent regions, including Lachin.

Most of the territory was liberated by Azerbaijan during a 44-day war in the fall of 2020, which ended after a Russian-brokered peace agreement that opened the door to normalization talks and the demarcation of their border.

After a series of slow-moving negotiations, Azerbaijan rushed in troops last year in September and swiftly seized back Karabakh, whose entire population of nearly 120,000 people returned to Armenia after rejecting a reintegration program Baku offered.

Earlier in 2024, Armenia withdrew from several Azerbaijani villages it had controlled since the early 1990s as part of the peace process.