Azerbaijan largest importer of weapons in Europe in 2011-2015, study finds

By bne IntelliNews February 24, 2016

Azerbaijan was the largest importer of major weapons in Europe, after its deliveries increased by 217% from 2006-2010 to 2011-2015, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) finds. Meanwhile, the UK was the second largest importer, despite experiencing a 17% decline in its import during the two study periods.

Azerbaijan's investment in military equipment and personnel, which officially stands at some $4bn a year but unofficially is believe to be between $2bn and $3bn a year, is a sign of Baku's frustration with the peace negotiations with Armenia over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku and Yerevan have been in a state of frozen conflict since signing a ceasefire in 1994, and the former has reiterated its position that the status quo is not an option it is willing to consider. Nevertheless, both sides have stuck to their principled positions and have failed to make any compromise in over two decades.

While Armenia is supplied with weapons by Russia, which recently announced a $200mn worth shipment of weapons, Azerbaijan has used oil revenues to purchase weapons - also from Russia. In 2011-2015, Baku accounted for some 5% of Russia's total weapon exports, compared to 0.7% in 2006-2011.

Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

Republic of Congo expands oil partnerships, eyes closer ties with Azerbaijan

The Republic of the Congo’s President Denis Sassou-Nguesso is diversifying the West African country’s oil and gas partnerships in search of reliable allies to explore its substantial reserves, ... more

Uzbek women top ranking for foreign brides who got married in Turkey last year, overtaking Syrians

Uzbek women topped the ranking for foreign brides who got married in Turkey last year, overtaking Syrian women who were in the top spot from 2015, according to data from the Turkish Statistical ... more

Azerbaijani banks showed positive asset growth in 2023

Azerbaijan's banking sector staged a remarkable comeback in 2023, with robust asset growth, surging loan portfolios and profit gains. From established ... more

Follow Us On

Most Read

  1. EU finally boosts defence investment into arms production as Ukraine runs out of ammo
    1 month ago
  2. Don't mention the "D" word - Ukraine
    8 days ago
  3. The models are wrong, climate change is accelerating faster than predicted
    3 days ago
  4. Ukraine's birth rate plummets to 300-year low as country’s population collapses
    10 days ago
  5. The 'wet-bulb' set to kill hundreds of thousands of people if temperatures and humidity levels continue to rise
    5 days ago
  1. Russia could pay off its entire external debt tomorrow, in cash
    28 days ago
  2. Albanians campaign on social media to keep bus bridge created in freak accident
    1 year ago
  3. BRICS announce a blockchain-based payment system to create a common currency
    1 month ago
  4. Saudi Arabia to scale back plans for Neom city
    18 days ago
  5. Iran vs Israel: Who is better equipped for war?
    14 days ago

Reports

Dismiss