Vahagn Aleksanyan Explains Why a Significant Increase in Military Budget is No Longer Necessary

Vahagn Aleksanyan, a member of the 'Civil Contract' faction in the National Assembly, discussed the potential for future increases in the military budget during a conversation with journalists. He noted that in 2017, Armenia's military budget amounted to $400 million, while by 2025, it is expected to reach $1.7 billion.

"These expenses mainly cover military acquisitions. They are being carried out according to plan. By 2026, the need for further acquisitions will decrease, as necessary purchases will already have been made in 2025," said the deputy.

Aleksanyan stated that additional planning is still being conducted. "I believe that a significant increase is no longer needed, because, first, Armenia and Azerbaijan have tentatively signed a peace agreement, and second, the pace of budget increases in recent years has been sufficient," he emphasized.

In response to journalists’ questions about whether the balance of power has been restored, Aleksanyan replied, "Why should we directly compare ourselves to Azerbaijan? We need to have a capable army that can defend the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. That is why our government has raised the previous meager budget of $400 million to $1.7 billion." He also mentioned that Azerbaijan's military acquisitions should not be measured through our prism, as a member of the State Duma threatened Azerbaijan with war.