Armenia’s defense spending in 2018 amounted to 245 billion drams, and in 2025—to 664 billion drams ($1.741 billion), Defense Minister Suren Papikyan told a press conference Tuesday.

He informed that Armenia’s defense spending has increased by $1.1 billion.

The minister considered it important to compare 2025 with the “pre-revolutionary 2018” amid criticism that not enough funds are allocated to Armenia’s defense sector.

“These numbers are telling, and I want to emphasize this and consider 2025 to be a super-effective year in terms of both [Armenia’s] defense spending and overall spending,” Papikyan added.