France undermines peace efforts in the South Caucasus French-made arms are on their way to Armenia

The South Caucasus got rid of one of the world’s longest and deadliest conflicts three years ago. A 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the latter’s Karabakh region has fetched all-new realities that paved the way to peace the region missing for decades.

Azerbaijan has ended the occupation of its lands as a result of the 2020 war to herald the comeback of peace to its territory. In 2023, the second chapter of Azerbaijan’s struggle for enabling peace to prevail took place – Karabakh was freed from separatism, in other words, Baku has completely cleared the way to peace of all obstacles within its borders.

Over the past three years, numerous steps have been taken by Azerbaijan to bring peace closer. Baku submitted five basic principles for normalisation to Yerevan. A series of meetings between the leaders and high-ranking officials from the two countries have taken place. The US, the EU, and Russia mediated the process for thawing ice between the two neigbouring nations.

However, the growing chances for establishing durable peace in South Caucasus is seemingly not unanimously welcomed in Europe. France, once a peace mediator in the former Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh conflict, has been taking steps that jeopardize the stability in the South Caucasus.

In footage aired on November 12, France was seen supplying arms to Armenia. Dozens of “Bastion” multi-purpose armoured personnel carriers have been unloaded in the Black Sea coastal Porti port of Georgia. Moreover, components of the French “ARQUUS” brand were also supplied next to the armoured vehicles.

The material is expected to head from Poti to the Georgia-Armenia border, where it will be handed over to the Armenian side.

The French arms supplies to Armenia follows the signing of contracts “for expanding bilateral cooperation” last month.

In early October, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced that Paris agreed on future contracts for military deliveries to Yerevan, explaining it with “extreme vigilance against any threat to the territorial integrity of Armenia”.

On October 23, Armenia’s Defence Minister Suren Papikyan and his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu inked the contracts in Paris.

Lecornu said France would also train Armenian officers to operate the military equipment and assist in ongoing reforms of the Armenian armed forces: Lecornu later tweeted in Armenian that Armenia should be able "to defend itself and protect its population".

⚡️EXCLUSIVE https://t.co/DXqsHvWgC4

French #military equipment heading to #Armenia - through Georgia!#Caliber has learned that at the moment military equipment sent by #France for Armenia is moving through Georgia towards the #Georgian-#Armenian border.

In particular, this… pic.twitter.com/g9EcdnZSB9

— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) November 12, 2023

Azatutyun.am, the Armenian service of Radio Liberty, quoted Lecornu as saying that Armenia would purchase “Mistral” short-range surface-to-air missiles and three radar systems from France. The French minister stressed that weapons to be supplied to Armenia were of the defensive character.

Armenia’s growing approximation with France has been taking amidst Yerevan’s drifting away from its longtime ally Russia. The Armenian authorities have repeatedly voiced their dissatisfaction with Moscow’s “inaction” to support the country’s interests in regional developments, including the uneasy relations with Azerbaijan.

A growing admiration of France is observed also among the Armenian civil society. Most respondents in a recent survey conducted in Armenia said they expect military and political support for their country to come from France, rather than from Russia, Sputnik Armenia news website has reported. 

The opinion poll was conducted among 1,100 people over the phone on 1-4 November by MPG, the representative of the GALLUP International Association in Armenia.

A total of 41.1% of respondents said they expect France to provide military and political support, while 14.4%, down from 30% in January, put Russia on top of Armenia’s military and political ally, and 18.7% instead of the previous 40.1% opted for closer cooperation with Iran.

Meanwhile, a total of 15.7% of respondents - down from 35.8% in June - said no country would provide military or political assistance to Armenia.

Forty per cent of the respondents are convinced that Yerevan should have balanced relations with all influential centres; 17% said the country should move towards the West, while 14% opted for Russia. The USA and Iran came next, with 13% and 4.8%, respectively. 

In the meantime, more than half of the respondents were dissatisfied with the performance of the Armenian authorities. The poll found the work of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan does not sit well with 52.6% of respondents, while 34.2% supported him, and 13.2% hesitated to answer.