YEREVAN (Azatutyun) — Azerbaijan threatened on July 25 to take large-scale military action against Armenia in response to what it called Armenian “provocations” along the border between the two countries.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry claimed that the Armenian military recently used “heavy weaponry” and a reconnaissance drone in the area. The ministry also called on Armenia and its sponsors to “refrain from creating a new hotbed of war” in the South Caucasus.
“If such provocative actions do not stop, appropriate steps will be taken using all means in the arsenal of the armed forces of Azerbaijan for the purpose of self-defense,” it added in a statement.
The ministry also denounced Western powers for stepping up military cooperation with Armenia, citing joint military exercises conducted by the United States in Armenia this month, an arms deal with France, and the European Union’s allocation of 10 million euros ($10.9 million) in military aid to Yerevan.
It claimed these actions can inspire Armenia “to resort to new provocations and prepare for another war against Azerbaijan.”
The Armenian Foreign Ministry rejected the claims. Spokeswoman Ani Badalyan insisted that Yerevan remains committed to its “peace agenda” and “will not deviate from this strategy.”
