Baku: Azerbaijani and Uzbek defense ministries have signed a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2026. Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, hosted a delegation from Uzbekistan led by Viktor Mahmudov, Secretary of the Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan, and Lieutenant General Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov, Minister of Defense, during an official visit to Azerbaijan.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the Uzbek delegation first paid respects at the Alley of Honors, laying wreaths at the graves of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, and Zarifa Aliyeva, a prominent ophthalmologist and academician. They also visited Victory Park to lay a wreath at the Victory Monument.
During an official welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of Defense, the Uzbek delegation was greeted with an honor guard and the national anthems of both Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The delegation proceeded to sign the ‘Book of Honor’ following the protocol.
In discussions between the delegations, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov highlighted the foundation of military cooperation between the two nations on friendly and fraternal relations. The Uzbek delegation noted that this cooperation enhances the development of both countries’ armed forces. Discussions extended to military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, culminating in the signing of the military cooperation plan for 2026.
Additionally, the Uzbek delegation visited the main departments of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army to gain insights into their operations and to engage in a dialogue that addressed their queries.