Azerbaijan Intends to Purchase Submarines, Destroyer and Aircraft in South Korea

Azerbaijan wants to purchase a large number of modern weapons from South Korea. However, official Seoul has doubts, fearing a negative  reaction from Russia as well as the possibility of an imbalance of forces, given the dispute between Baku and Yerevan over the ownership of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to South Korean newspaper "Hanguk Ilbo," referring to its sources in the country's parliament.

"Rossiyskaya Gazeta" reported that Baku’s interest in acquiring South Korean weapons and equipment was made during a recent visit of the delegation to the Parliament of South Korea.

The list of weapons that the Azerbaijani authorities would like to buy is rather large. In particular, Azerbaijan would like to purchase two submarines, destroyers, transport ship, supersonic trainer aircraft T-50, one of the world's best K-9 self-propelled guns 155 mm caliber, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, fire control systems and other items. The total transaction of the value, in the case of its conclusion, would be at least three billion dollars.

"Hanguk Ilbo" noted that the weapons are desired by Baku primarily in support of the confrontation with Yerevan in the territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, which is now under Armenian control. In addition, the strengthening of the armed forces of Azerbaijan will increase opportunities to protect its rich oil and gas deposits.

These proposed purchases have been delivered to the government of South Korea which is not in a hurry to start negotiations with Azerbaijan over the arms. There are several reasons for the reluctance. First, the supply of such large quantities of weapons could lead to a change in the balance of power in the region and will be perceived as a "game" of Seoul on the side of Baku in the territorial dispute, in which Koreans do not want to get involved. Deputy Kim Kwang Jin, who was among a group of MPs who visited Baku, recognized the potential problem. "We have yet to discover should we supply weapons to the country, which has a territorial dispute with another state,” said Kim, but acknowledged that "Azerbaijan has expressed a very strong interest and desire to buy our weapons."

Korean gunsmiths would like to export such large quantities of weapons, which would not only help to earn a substantial amount, but also improve the image of South Korea as a global supplier of arms. Seoul does not hide its goal of becoming an active player in the international arms market. However, they understand that the weapon is often the policy, and therefore have to watch what you sell and to whom.

According to the "Hanguk Ilbo," the South Korean Foreign Ministry reacted negatively to the possibility of selling weapons to Azerbaijan, and recommended that the Ministry of Defense of Korea “exercise particular care and restraint.”

In this regard, in Korea it was reported that the head of the military department of the country not by chance recently cited "heavy workload internal affairs," in rejecting Baku’s proposal, as well as the suggestion of a Korean MP to visit Azerbaijan. However, the paper said that instead of the minister, his deputy is going to visit Baku, and he will discuss the issue of the supply of weapons.

"Hanguk Ilbo" notes that there is another reason for caution of Seoul. They do not want to spoil relations with Russia, which has a special interest in the region, as well as its position in the relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh issue. "It is clear that Russia heartedly react to the fact that Azerbaijan will dramatically increase its military capabilities, with our help, » the newspaper quoted the opinion of the representative of the government of South Korea. A compromise proposal was suggested, "To reduce the risk of negative reaction of Russia, they should start consideration of the organizing supplies of purely defensive weapons to Azerbaijan, » said Hanguk O’ Jeong-Jin, the professor at Seoul University of Foreign Studies. -02D-