Particularly after Armenia made large arms acquisitions from India, Azerbaijan has indicated interest in purchasing weapons from India to offset Armenia’s military improvements. According to reports, India has disregarded this request, which was made through a third country, stating that it will decide its bilateral relations on its own, without the involvement of middlemen.
Position of Azerbaijan: Citing national security concerns, President Ilham Aliyev has openly called on nations, including India, to abstain from providing armaments to Armenia. “If perceived threats continue to escalate due to Armenia’s military build-up supported by foreign arms supplies,” he said, “Azerbaijan might take serious measures.”
Armenia’s military acquisitions: India has supplied Armenia with a number of weaponry systems, such as Akash missile systems and Pinaka rocket launchers, to strengthen its defensive capabilities. Azerbaijan has asked India for similar assistance after this military collaboration alarmed Baku.
India has responded by upholding its commitment to Armenia as a strategic partner in spite of the amicable overtures made by a third party. New Delhi sees Armenia as a political partner with common objectives as well as a defence ally, especially when considering regional dynamics including France and Greece, both of which back Armenia.
The issue demonstrates the South Caucasus’s complicated geopolitical environment, where India and Western countries back Armenia while Azerbaijan is allied with Pakistan and Turkey. These connections are further complicated by the ongoing territorial conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which makes India’s position in regional security issues especially important.
As a result of wider geopolitical factors in the area, New Delhi’s current strategic alignment with Armenia seems to take precedence over Azerbaijan’s desire to strengthen its military capabilities with Indian weapons.
