Azerbaijan, South Korea Strengthen Defense Ties in Baku Talks

Azerbaijan and South Korea have held defense talks in Baku to expand cooperation on military development and regional security.

The discussions centered on enhancing defense collaboration, sharing experience, and exploring new areas of partnership.

They also discussed domestic stability and future joint initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral defense capabilities.

The talks took place at the General Staff headquarters, where Col. Gen. Karim Valiyev, Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff, received a South Korean delegation led by Maj. Gen. Choi Chun-song, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Department at South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.

Before the meeting, the South Korean group visited Baku’s Alley of Martyrs memorial ground and the Eternal Flame monument, where they laid flowers in tribute to Azerbaijan’s fallen soldiers.

Valiyev personally welcomed the East Asian partners and said he was pleased to see them in Azerbaijan, adding that he “highly appreciated the achievements made within the framework of military cooperation between the two countries.”

Choi thanked the Azerbaijani side for its hospitality and emphasized “the importance of mutual visits in further strengthening relations.”

Bridging Collaborations

Azerbaijan and South Korea established diplomatic relations in the 1990s and have since expanded cooperation on defense, energy, and technology.

In 2015, Seoul opened a military attaché office in Baku, marking a formal step in security collaboration.

This was followed by the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a six-week war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed region, which prompted Azerbaijan to prioritize modernizing its military and pursue advanced partners for defense technology and training.

South Korea, facing its own evolving security landscape, has also expanded its global defense partnerships and exports, particularly across Europe, amid rising demand for its technology and expertise.

Sources said the growing defense engagement between Baku and Seoul reflects both nations’ efforts to deepen cooperation and adapt to shifting regional security dynamics.