Armenia not planning to attack anyone, higher defense spending is preparation for peace – says Pashinyan

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Defense expenditures in Armenia under the 2024 budget will be doubled compared to 2018, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told lawmakers during debates of his administration’s budget request for next year.

“This is not a preparation for war, but for peace, because the sense of protection among our citizens is the most important guarantee for peace and stability,” Pashinyan said.

“I am convinced that all neighboring countries are sure that we don’t intend to attack anyone,” Pashinyan added.

He dismissed the concerns on the expenditures as dishonest, noting : “First of all, any sovereign state has not only the right but also the obligation to reform and strengthen its military, something we are doing. And secondly, in the last ten years, Azerbaijan’s defense spending was on an average three times higher than ours. And basically it remains the same,” Pashinyan said.