Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Georgia, Irakli Chikovani, hosted Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Defence Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the Ministry of Defence of Georgia, the official welcoming ceremony took place at the Ministry of Defence, followed by discussions covering a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and international cooperation.

Following their bilateral meeting, the ministers engaged in an extended session with their respective delegations. Irakli Chikovani expressed his gratitude to his Azerbaijani colleague for unwavering support of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reaffirmed Georgia’s commitment to Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in return. The dialogue underscored that the strategic partnership between the two nations rests on mutual respect, trust, and good neighbourliness. The conversation also highlighted the importance of long-term, stable development across the South Caucasus region.

The officials examined various aspects of their bilateral defence cooperation, including military education, social and psychological support, and joint participation in multinational military exercises.

A key focus was the trilateral defence cooperation involving Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia. Irakli Chikovani emphasised that trilateral exercises foster closer ties between the armed forces of these countries and enhance interoperability.

The meeting was attended by Georgia’s Commander of Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Giorgi Matiashvili, as well as the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Commander of Defence Forces.

During his visit, the Azerbaijani Defence Minister laid a wreath at the Heroes’ Memorial, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the battles for Georgia’s unity. Subsequently, the Azerbaijani delegation visited the Heydar Aliyev Monument, where they laid a wreath in honour of the national leader.