Baku: An Uzbek delegation led by the Secretary of the Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Viktor Mahmudov, and the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Shukhrat Khalmukhamedov, is on an official visit to Azerbaijan. The delegation met with the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, on December 10, as reported by APA, citing the Ministry of Defense.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, the visit began with a tribute to the graves of the National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, and the prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva, at the Alley of Honor. The Uzbek delegation laid wreaths and flowers at these graves to honor their memory. The delegation then proceeded to Victory Park, where they laid a wreath at the Victory Monument.

The official welcoming ceremony at the Ministry of Defense included a passage along the honor guard, with the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan being performed. In line with protocol, the ‘Book of Honor’ was signed by the visiting delegation.

During the meeting, Colonel General Z. Hasanov emphasized the friendly and fraternal basis of the bilateral military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The Uzbek delegation highlighted that the cooperation in the military sphere contributes to the development and strengthening of both nations’ armies.

Discussions during the meeting covered Azerbaijani-Uzbek cooperation in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, alongside addressing mutual interests in the defense sector. The meeting concluded with the signing of a bilateral military cooperation plan for 2026 between the defense ministries of both countries.

As part of their visit, the Uzbek delegation also visited the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army to familiarize themselves with the main activity areas of its departments, where their questions were addressed.