Ruling party MP Vahagn Aleksanyan said Armenia’s defense budget should avoid sharp increases in 2026, despite regional security concerns.
Speaking to reporters, Aleksanyan noted that the defense budget has already grown significantly in recent years, and simply maintaining this level is a serious challenge.
He stressed that the recent developments, including the initialing of a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, indicate there is no need for major additional spending.
“It would be logical that at least no tangible increase takes place,” Aleksanyan said, according to Panorama.am .
He added that Armenia should not measure itself against Azerbaijan’s spending levels. “We must have a capable and effective army able to defend Armenia’s territorial integrity, but why should we compare ourselves directly with Azerbaijan?” he asked.
At the same time, Aleksanyan stated that it is essential to maintain a combat-ready and functional army.
Deputy Defense Minister Hrachya Sargsyan earlier said he does not yet know whether the ministry’s allocations will be cut in the 2026 budget, but stressed that Armenia’s overall state budget cannot be raised to match Azerbaijan’s defense spending.
