Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, has held a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, focusing on bilateral defense cooperation and regional stability in the Middle East and South Caucasus.

Axar.az reports that Italian Ministry of Defense shared the information on his X page.

The Italian side described Azerbaijan as a “fundamental” actor in the Eurasian region and a key interlocutor for Italy, as well as a strategic partner in the energy sector.

Crosetto expressed solidarity and firmly condemned the recent drone attack on Azerbaijan attributed to Iran, while also praising Baku’s balance and sense of responsibility in managing tensions.

During the talks, both sides reaffirmed the strength and growing importance of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the field of defense, including training and educational activities between their armed forces, as well as in the defense industry.

The ministers also confirmed their shared willingness to further promote dialogue in order to expand areas of cooperation. In addition, they underlined the importance of preserving stability in the Middle East and the South Caucasus, in light of the impact of ongoing conflicts on regional security.