Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan's and the United States' military officials will discuss the cooperation between the two countries.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov is expected to meet with U.S. counterpart Chuck Hagel in Brussels.

They will meet as part of the North Atlantic Council meeting to be held on June 4 at the level of defense ministers of the countries-non-NATO members, but contributing to the ISAF operation in Afghanistan, the Azerbaijani defense ministry reported.

Azerbaijani Defense Minister started visit to Brussel on June 2.

NATO and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating on democratic, institutional, and military reforms, and enjoy practical cooperation in various areas.

The cooperation plan between Azerbaijan and the NATO is set out in the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan aspires to achieve Euro-Atlantic standards and get closer to Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this regard, supporting reform in the security sector and establishing democratic institutions are the key elements of the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation.

The Azerbaijani peacekeeping contingent in Afghanistan doubled in 2009. Currently, some 90 Azerbaijani servicemen are serving in ISAF. A company and then a battalion of peacekeepers were established as part of the Azerbaijani armed forces in 1997.

In the past, Azerbaijan has also actively supported the NATO's operations in Kosovo.

Azerbaijan is among the eight partner countries that have confirmed their presence in Afghanistan after 2014.