Azerbaijan plans to spend 5.3 billion manats (US$3.1 billion at the current exchange rate) on defense and national security in 2023, 17.1% more than in 2022.

TASS reports that the amount appears in Azerbaijan’s 2023 draft budget.

According to the draft, 3 billion manats (some $1.8 billion) will be allocated for the restoration of the liberated territories in Karabakh in 2023, 12.4% more than in 2022, and 37.7% more than in 2021.

In comparison, Armenia plans to spend $1.3 billion on defense, an increase of 47% over this year.

Armenia’s 2023 draft budget amounts to $5.7 billion. Azerbaijan’s 2023 draft budget amounts to $19.6 billion.