The Azerbaijani Armed Forces isn’t a huge military, but does spend about 5% of its country’s GDP annually. This could rapidly become a lot more as the war in Nagorno-Karabakh escalates, and President Aliyev is vowing to “fight to the end.”
Aliyev says he will commit all means available to recover Azeri control over Nagorno-Karabakh, and will continue to contest the region to the end. After several failed ceasefire efforts, and threats by Turkey and Russia to get involved, this could easily become out of hand as a regional conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but is under ethnic Armenian control. The two nations are in a constant state of unrest over this, which erupts into occasional skirmishes. This latest flare up is one of the biggest in decades.
Within Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azeri forces have claimed some territorial gains, which has some believing they can resolve this situation once and for all. At the same time, Armenia has shelled Azerbaijan’s cities, and has been courting Russian support in the conflict.
Azerbaijan Vows to ‘Fight to the End’ in Nagorno-Karabakh
Aliyev: Will restore control of region by any means
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