Understanding Armenia's High Level of Militarization: Max Machler

Armenia's high level of militarization is understandable; however, it cannot be considered a positive development, said Max Machler, an analyst at the Bonn International Center for Conversion, in an interview with Voice of America. This statement reflects the center's report, which recognizes Armenia as the most militarized country in Europe and the third most militarized country in the world.

"The level of militarization in the country is certainly influenced by external situations, security issues, and the actions of neighboring countries; however, it is also a political decision made by the country's leadership," noted Machler.

The Bonn International Center for Conversion assesses the level of militarization by considering military expenditures in relation to GDP and healthcare expenditures, as well as the number of military personnel and reservists compared to the total population and the number of doctors. The ratio of heavy artillery to the overall population is also accounted for.

According to Machler, the purpose of the research is to reveal how significant a role the military sector plays within a given state's society. Based on these criteria, in 2019, Armenia was recognized as the first in Europe and third in the world in terms of militarization, surpassed only by Israel and Singapore.

Machler stated that although Armenia's high degree of militarization is understandable, it remains a concerning factor: "When a significant amount of state resources is directed towards militarization, other sectors such as healthcare, education, and social services, which could have benefited from these resources, face deprivation. Therefore, excessively high militarization could be detrimental to other areas."

Moreover, every country with a high level of militarization is somehow involved in serious military conflict with its neighbors. In Armenia's case, this refers to Azerbaijan, which is understandable; nevertheless, I would still consider the high degree of militarization to be worrisome," he concluded.