Armenia, France mull military cooperation

On October 14, Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met with Olivier Decottignies, the French Ambassador to Armenia.

Matters related to the current state and future cooperation programmes between two countries in the defence sector were discussed, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

"During the meeting, matters related to the current state and future cooperation programmes between Armenia and France in the defence sector were discussed, particularly the reforms underway in the Armenian Armed Forces and France's involvement in these reforms," the statement read.

In June, France and Armenia entered into an agreement for the supply of Caesar self-propelled howitzers, equipped with 155-millimetre, 52-calibre cannons, capable of firing advanced projectiles over a range of more than 50 kilometres. 

Both parties confirmed that the contract involves the delivery of 36 howitzers over the next 15 months, with French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu hailing it as a “significant new step” in the military relationship between France and Armenia.

This latest deal follows a series of similar military agreements between the two nations since France committed to arming Armenia in October 2023.

By Aghakazim Guliyev