Azerbaijani president`s statement on NATO standards for army routine,  but amid new territorial claims - analyst 

ArmInfo.  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's statement about converting his army to NATO standards is entirely routine, but it comes amid new territorial  claims that Azerbaijan has been voicing in one form or another. This  was stated by Russian military correspondent, blogger, and analyst  Yuri Kotenok.

"The Azerbaijani army is converting to NATO standards. Aliyev  joyfully announced this today, announcing further modernization of  the armed forces. He also noted that Baku is 'closely cooperating  with the Turkish army and the military departments of other Alliance  countries.' The statement is entirely routine, but it comes amid new  territorial claims that Azerbaijan has been voicing in one form or  another," the military correspondent noted.

He also noted that Baku is actively increasing arms exports, placing  a particular emphasis on Africa.  Kotenok is confident that both new  equipment and equipment that doesn't meet NATO standards are being  shipped there. "In recent months, Azerbaijani weapons have been  spotted in Sudan (on both sides of the conflict), Burkina Faso, and  Ethiopia. Before that, they were also seen in Congo. It's believed  that all deliveries are made through Turkish intermediaries. Ankara  has long been investing heavily in Africa as a springboard for  expansion, and is only willing to share promising markets when it  can't meet the demand itself, or when it poses too high a  reputational risk," Kotenok concluded.