Yerevan, Paris discuss defence cooperation, international security

Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan met with Military Advisor to the French President, Chief of the Military Cabinet, Army General Fabien Mandon to discuss defence cooperation.

According to the Armenian Defence Ministry press service, the discussions were held within the framework of Papikyan’s working visit to France on December 16, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The meeting was also attended by the Armenian Ambassador to France Arman Khachatryan.

The parties elaborated on all directions of defence cooperation in detail, including military education, training programs, consultations, and military-technical issues.

Additionally, regional and international security matters were reviewed, with both sides presenting their perspectives on these issues.

To note, on September 27, 2023, then-French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced the appointment of a French military attaché in Yerevan to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.

In early October 2023, France responded positively to Armenia's request for military assistance. On October 22-23, at the meeting between the French and Armenian defence ministers, Sebastien Lecornu and Suren Papikyan, in Paris, an agreement was reached on the supply of arms to Yerevan. At that time, agreements were signed on the supply of three Thales Ground Master 200 (GM200) radars to Yerevan and a memorandum of understanding for the supply of Mistral short-range air defence systems.

The second contract concerned Yerevan's acquisition of night vision binoculars, equipment manufactured by Safran. France has already supplied Armenia with 24 units of Bastion light armoured vehicles

In June 2024, Yerevan and Paris expanded the already established military-technical cooperation, with France supplying Caesar howitzers to Armenia.

By Khagan Isayev