On the "improvement" of our military...

03:32:00 20.01.2026

On the "improvement" of our military

In recent years, the idea has often been repeated that Armenia “significantly increased its defense budget” after the 2020 war. However, if we go beyond surface-level numbers and try to understand what actually changed, it becomes clear that this claim is largely a statistical and political manipulation by the current government in order to get broad support from the public.

First, it should be remembered that until 2020, Armenian-aligned military spending was not fully reflected in Armenia’s state budget. Artsakh had its own budget and armed forces, and Armenia’s support was often indirect, not fully transparent, or excluded from official statistics. In reality, the military burden was split between Armenia and Artsakh, but only Armenia’s figures were publicly reported. After the war, this parallel system disappeared. Artsakh no longer has a separate military budget, and all defense and security expenditures are now centralized under Armenia’s accounts. This naturally creates the illusion of growth, even if overall military spending did not actually increase.

Additionally, it is essential to take inflation into account. Since 2020, Armenia, like the rest of the world, has faced significant inflation. This is especially pronounced in the military sector, as weapons, equipment, fuel, and ammunition are largely imported and have increased in price faster than general consumer goods. If the defense budget has grown only in nominal terms, its real purchasing power may have simply remained the same or even declined.

The same applies to defense spending as a percentage of GDP. If the economy stagnates or contracts while the defense budget merely maintains its level, spending as a percentage of GDP will automatically rise. This does not mean more weapons, better readiness, or higher combat capability—it simply means the country has grown poorer faster than its army has strengthened.

Finally, it is important to understand where these expenditures are actually going. Historically, defeated states often maintain high defense budgets, but much of this money is spent on compensating losses, social payments, care for the wounded, pensions, and border security. While all of this is necessary, it does not equate to military development or long-term strengthening. We should also note that the length of the Armenian–Azerbaijani frontline has increased following the 44-day treacherous war and the loss of Artsakh.

Considering all this, it is entirely reasonable to say that the claim “Armenia increased its defense budget” is largely a myth. Once inflation, the disappearance of the Artsakh factor, and real military capability are taken into account, one can conclude that defense spending at best has stagnated, while Armenia’s strategic position has clearly deteriorated.

Moreover, it should be emphasized that even if the current government had genuinely strengthened the army, it would not make much difference as long as the same defeatist and appeasement-oriented political approach continues. What use is a strong army if the leadership continues to instill submission in the population and to promote an ideology of surrender? Before the 2020 war, under both the “previous” and “current” governments, it was claimed that our army was “the most combat-ready” in the region, and various new weapons were often showcased. Yet all of this proved meaningless because betrayal and treachery against Artsakh had long been planned. We lost that war due to treachery, losing much of our territory after the agreements, and thousands of our weapons fell into Azerbaijan’s hands. That war demonstrated that a strong army, without a clear political purpose, restored combat morale, a will to triumph, and competent political leadership, is ultimately worthless.

Therefore, before we can resolve our military problems, we must first resolve our political problem. When we resolve our political problems by building a true national state through our national political movement, we will have the will and a clear purpose to build a combat-ready and victorious army, through which we will be able to restore an independent, unified, and strong Armenia in the future.