Azerbaijan to Boost Defense Spending in 2025 State Budget
Azerbaijan plans to significantly raise its defense and national security budget in 2025, with a focus on strengthening military capabilities and responding to regional security challenges.
Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, speaking at a parliamentary meeting on economic policy, explained that the increase in spending is necessary due to the growing militarization of Armenia and the need to enhance Azerbaijan’s military potential.
In the draft budget for 2025, 20.3% of total government spending, amounting to 8.396 billion manats ($4.94 billion), will be allocated to defense and national security. This represents a 17.8% increase, or 1.27 billion manats ($747 million), compared to the 2024 forecast, and a 43.4% increase, or 2.542 billion manats ($1.495 billion), over the 2023 forecast.
Minister Sharifov emphasized that the rise in spending is essential for modernizing Azerbaijan’s defense infrastructure and ensuring national security.
The 2025 expenditure structure includes 2.665 billion manats ($1.567 billion) for the armed forces, 467.9 million manats ($275.2 million) for national security, and 540.3 million manats ($317.8 million) for the border service. An additional 4.717 billion manats ($2.775 billion) is earmarked for other defense and security-related activities.
These expenses will be financed through an increase in transfers from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan to the state budget.
